Derek McInnes finds himself right in the eye of a storm following Rangers' grim exit from Europe in midweek and travelling to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen on Sunday is unlikely to offer safe shelter.
It was largely a week to forget for Scottish clubs in European competition, commencing with Celtic's cataclysmic collapse against LASK in Linz on Tuesday.
Motherwell and Hibernian were also shown the exit door on Thursday, leaving Hearts as the sole winners this week following their own admirable Austrian adventure.
The time for dwelling is short, with three Premiership games on Saturday and three more on Sunday, including St Mirren hosting Well as the Buddies try to maintain a 100 per-cent record in the league.
Celtic v Falkirk
Saturday 29th August (3.00pm)
Celtic -1 @ 8/15
It really was a new low for Celtic on Tuesday as they lost a 4-0 lead on aggregate to crash out of the UEFA Champions League in Linz.
By the end, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kasper Hogh were among the walking wounded still on the pitch and Martin O'Neill now has a patch-up job to perform for Falkirk's visit.
The Bairns have yet to score a goal in two games and have mustered just two shots on target in their defeat to St Mirren and a draw at Motherwell.
They have visited Parkhead six times since 2021, losing them all, with the aggregate scoreline 21-4 in Celtic's favour - all wins by at least two goals.
Hearts v St Johnstone
Saturday 29th August (3.00pm)
Hearts to win & both teams to score @ 12/5
Hearts were nothing short of heroic in Vienna in midweek, surviving despite Tomas Magnussen being sent off as they chased a goal in the second half.
Had they lost the shootout in Austria, the effects of fatigue might be a major worry for Wouter Vrancken and his side but the opposite is true now, with the mental boost of having become the first non-Old Firm side since 2007 to reach a UEFA league phase by winning a qualifying tie.
This isn't a fixture that inspires the Saints, the Perth side having lost 10 in a row home and away against the Jambos, but they have at least scored in each of their last four defeats to Hearts.
Kilmarnock v Dundee United
Saturday 29th August (3.00pm)
Kilmarnock to win @ 6/4
Dundee United opened the Premiership season with a positive display in a 1-1 draw with Rangers at Tannadice four weeks ago, but that is a distant memory now and perhaps on reflection said more about the Light Blues than it did their hosts.
Jim Goodwin's side have played three times in league and cup since, conceding 10 goals and scoring none in defeats to Hearts, Celtic and derby rivals Dundee.
Kilmarnock took a trouncing from Celtic in the league and they conceded sloppily but showed a good attitude to defeat neighbours Ayr United in the Premier Sports Cup here at Rugby Park.
Neil McCann reflected positively on the resolve of his side after that win and that is a trait the Terrors were missing in last weekend's Tayside derby defeat.
Aberdeen v Rangers
Sunday 30th August (12.00pm)
Aberdeen or Draw - Double Chance @ 10/11
It's hard to think of any place Rangers and McInnes would relish less than Pittodrie on Sunday given their current state.
The Light Blues boss is going to a former stomping ground and a place by the cold North Sea where Rangers are always assured of a hostile welcome.
The Glasgow side have won just once in five trips to Aberdeen since the spring of 2023.
Two wins in seven games is poor for McInnes in his dream job and Thursday's dire showing against Jablonec was a sore blow, with the Rangers boss conceding post-game he was embarrassed and mortified by the performance.
Finding light at the end of the tunnel in Aberdeen will be tough.
Dundee v Hibernian
Sunday 30th August (3.00pm)
Dundee to win @ 11/5
Where city rivals Hearts are expected to get a buzz after pulling off their European mission, Hibs and David Gray had their dream snatched away by a stoppage-time own goal at Easter Road against Gent on Thursday.
Dundee are still relishing the afterglow of their win at Tannadice last weekend and can make it three Premiership wins on the bounce since their opening loss at Celtic.
St Mirren v Motherwell
Sunday 30th August (3.00pm)
Under 2.5 goals @ 1/1
Motherwell eventually conceded seven goals over two legs against Freiburg having been reduced to 10 men home and away.
That followed a League Cup exit at the hands of Stenhousemuir and this is already their 10th game of the season.
St Mirren have been busy, too, the Buddies scoring 16 goals in seven league and cup games, with just two losses.
Motherwell were 5-0 winners here in February under Jens Berthel Askou but prior to that six meetings in Paisley had produced only four goals, so this might not be a game for the purists.
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
