SUNDAY SHOWDOWNS

St Johnstone v Aberdeen

Kick-off: 12.15pm. TV: LIVE on BT Sport 1. THINGS will not come much tougher for Aberdeen as an opening-day fixture if last season’s results between the two clubs are anything to go by. Saints triumphed 5-1 when they first met last term, making it back-to-back defeats for the Dons after an eight-game winning run, before losing the return fixture 4-3 in Perth. Those two matches were followed by a 1-1 draw and a 3-0 victory for Saints, so if the theme is similar this campaign, there will be plenty of goals in this clash. PROBABLE TEAMS: ST JOHNSTONE (4-2-3-1): Mannus; Shaughnessy, Anderson, Scobbie, Easton; Craig, Paton; Alston, Wotherspoon, Swanson; MacLean.

ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Lewis; Logan, Reynolds, Considine, Shinnie; Storie, Jack; Burns, McGinn, McLean; Rooney. Referee: Willie Collum.

Hearts v Celtic

Kick-off: 2.15pm. TV: LIVE on Sky Sports 1. BRENDAN RODGERS’ Bhoys were, yet again, below-par on Wednesday night against Astana in their Champions League thirdround qualifier, but managed to progress to the play-off qualifying round and have one more obstacle in their path to the group stage in the shape of Hapoel Be’er Sheva, while Hearts’ European adventure ended several weeks ago, much to the frustration of the Tynecastle support. The clubs drew the first two league meetings last term before Celtic triumphed in the other two, much to the delight of their support. PROBABLE TEAMS: HEARTS (4-4-2): Hamilton; Paterson, Souttar, Rossi, Rherras; Nicholson, Djoum, Buaben, Walker; Juanma, Sammon.

CELTIC (4-4-2): Gordon; Lustig, Toure, O’Connell, Tierney; MackaySteven, Brown, Armstrong, Forrest; Griffiths, Dembele.

Referee: John Beaton.