Everything you must know about Rangers, Celtic and Hearts post split fixtures as Danny Rohl faces unescapable peril

Need to knowThe Premiership split is just around the corner and is set to have major implications for the title race

Hearts, Celtic and Rangers will all soon discover their post-split fates

Scottish football is catching eyes from across the globe with a Premiership title race for the ages.

Hearts, Rangers and defending champions Celtic are battling it out with the race to the title set to go to the wire – and SPFL are facing a major headache with the release of the post-split fixtures just around the corner. The conclusion of match day 31 took us into the international break last weekend.

But while Steve Clarke’s men are looking to rack up some positive results for Scotland, clubs are already pondering what the supercomputer will thrown out for the final run-in. And with just five points separating the top three some big calls must be made.

But what can you expect? Here is everything you need to know about the post-split fixtures and the impact on the title race.

What is the SPFL Premiership split? Let’s start with the basics. After 33 games with the league will be broken into the top six and bottom six – effectively creating two mini divisions. Those clubs will all face each other to decide the final standings.What is up for grabs? Well, the title for starters with just five points separating table-topping Hearts and Celtic in third, with Rangers nestled in second spot. The league winners and runners-up enter the Champions League playoff rounds, while third and fourth go into the Conference League. The relegation battle is also going to the wire despite Livingston being cut adrift at the bottom. The battle to avoid 11th – and the relegation playoff – is between St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.Who is in the top six as it stands? League leaders Hearts, Rangers, Celtic, Motherwell, Hibs and Falkirk after 31 games.Can things change? Well, Dundee United have an outside chance of making it. They would need to defeat Rangers and Livingston before the league splits, and hope Falkirk lose both of their games. They need a seven goal swing in goal difference. While boss Jim Goodwin has admitted it would be a “miracle” he has refused to give up hope.What are the rules for the SPFL? League chiefs generally do everything they can to ensure every team plays an even number of home and away games. The title race throws up an extra headache as they must ensure Hearts, Rangers and Celtic have all played each other twice at home and twice away to ensure a level playing field.What do the fixtures look like for Hearts? The league leaders must play three home games, two away games. They have already played Rangers away twice, Celtic away once, so must face Rangers at home and Celtic away. They have already played Motherwell, Hibs and Falkirk at home twice and must face one of three at home.What do the fixtures look like for Rangers? Rangers are set to be the only title challengers to have played more home games than away games. To even it out, they must play two home games, three away games. They also must play Celtic and Hearts away. Additionally, the second-placed side have already played Motherwell, Hibs and Falkirk away twice. They must face one of three away.What do the fixtures look like for Celtic? It’s more straightforward for Martin O’Neill’s men. The defending champions have to play three home games and two away games. They have already played Rangers away twice and Hearts away twice so will face both at Celtic Park. They have already played Motherwell, Hibs and Falkirk at home twice but will face one of three at home.But, what about Dundee United? In the unlikely event they make it, the fixture list would effectively shake out the same for the top three – which is bad news for Danny Rohl and Rangers. United must play three away games, and two home games. After 31 games, they will have played Hearts and Celtic twice at Tannadice, and the Light Blues once on their own turf. It’s expected that United would be one of Rangers’ home games if they were to make it.When will the post split fixtures be released? Traditionally the fixtures are released the Monday after the conclusion of match day 33 in the Premiership. That would see the games issued by the SPFL on April 13.

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