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Celtic and Hearts supporters will find themselves in an interesting predicament come the next round of Scottish Premiership fixtures – having to root for their rivals.
Celtic are up first in the top three battle when they visit Hibernian on Sunday (12:00 BST) before Hearts host Rangers the following day (17:30).
The defending champions are three points behind leaders Hearts so a win at Easter Road would take them level, but behind on goal difference, before the action at Tynecastle on Monday.
Hibs are six points adrift of Motherwell in fourth, and five clear of Falkirk behind them in sixth, with four games still to play as the fight for European places continues.
David Gray’s side will need a lot of things to go their way to catch Motherwell but a fifth placed finish could still guarantee European football in the form of the Conference League’s second qualifying round. That’s if Celtic go on to beat Dunfermline Athletic and lift the Scottish Cup.
Beating Celtic would do Hibs no harm in that regard and it would also do their Edinburgh neighbours a massive turn.
Hibs have taken four points from Celtic Park this season, although it was 2007 when they last managed back-to-back wins over Celtic.
Hearts fan Liam Corbett is not expecting any favours from their city rivals.
“They’re not going to throw the game because they’re professional footballers,” he told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.
“But the edge to their game is not going to be there because they’ll know, having sat and watched us gloat and celebrate from Sunday to Sunday, they have an opportunity to put real pressure on Hearts going into the game on the Monday.”
That’s when Rangers, currently third in the table, travel across the M8 to Tynecastle.
After falling to a 3-2 defeat at home to Motherwell, Danny Rohl’s side’s title ambitions are hanging by a thread. Although only a point behind Celtic, Rangers are four off the top.
This is where things get tricky for supporters because Rangers really need a victory to keep their title charge alive.
But in winning they may also boost Celtic, provided Martin O’Neill’s side win at Easter Road.
If both Celtic and Rangers emerge victorious, Celtic would be joint on points with Hearts, behind on goal difference, and one above Rangers.
That means that were Celtic to win all their remaining games, which includes a home Old Firm derby and hosting Hearts on the final day, they would lift the Premiership trophy once again.
“I’ll stop short at saying that we’re supporting Rangers on Monday night,” Celtic supporter Paul John Dykes told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.
“But it definitely would be the best result.
“I absolutely wouldn’t write Rangers off getting a result there because I think that they’re hurting. They’re a bit of a wounded animal.
“Hearts have meant business all season, Celtic and Rangers have played pass the parcel. We are kind of hoping for a Rangers win because we need snookers, we need snookers due to the goal difference as well.”
