Dons face daunting Celtic test - Premiership picks

We have a top-of-the-table contest between two sides with 100% records after seven matches as Celtic host Aberdeen.

Neil Critchley takes over at Hearts, who are at home to St Mirren and the only team yet to register a Premiership victory.

Simo Valakari was appointed long before Critchley but a work permit delay means the Finn cannot be in the dugout as St Johnstone take on Ross County in Perth.

Meanwhile, Motherwell host Dundee aiming to make it five wins from six league outings.

Let's take a closer look at what's to come.

It might be far too premature to talk about Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen as title contenders, but this match will be a fascinating marker of their progress after a run of 13 league and cup wins on the spin.

The Dons have failed to beat Celtic in their last 25 attempts, the club's longest run ever without defeating the green and white half of Glasgow.

Their last three trips to Celtic Park have ended 6-0, 5-0, and 4-0. So, a competitive performance, never mind a positive result, would be progress.

Aberdeen's start has been impressive, with Thelin quickly implementing an attractive style while improving players.

But this will be the first game the Swede has faced for which his side are not the favourites, and so will be a test of his ability to adapt his tactics, something he was effective at when in charge of Elfsborg in his homeland.

Plus, some of Aberdeen's numbers - particularly how ruthless they have been in taking chances - could suggest they are over performing relative to their general play.

The club rank seventh in the Premiership for shots on target per game, but top the league when it comes to the rate of shots they get on target ending in goals.

Whereas Celtic are only slightly less efficient but while creating far more opportunities, which is why they have hit 22 goals in just seven games.

Brendan Rodgers' side have only conceded one, as well, in their flawless start.

So this is an altogether different challenge for Thelin's Aberdeen. How they respond will be intriguing, but not defining for the team or manager.

It's hard to believe the Motherwell midfielder is just 18, with 50 club appearances clocked up already.

Lennon Miller has two Premiership goals and three assists to his name so far this season, along with a couple of League Cup penalties.

He added to his burgeoning reputation with a lovely strike and assist in Scotland U21's defeat in Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Miller is a portrait of composure on the ball and his quick thinking from a free-kick led to the opener in Motherwell's win at Easter Road.

That was the fourth 2-1 in a row for 'Well, with three of those going their way, and Miller has been instrumental in such a good start. He makes the team tick.

While Critchley and Valakari will be trying to find the infamous 'new manager bounce', a much more experienced head will be bidding to build on an unlikely boost.

It looked like curtains for Kilmarnock when they fell 2-0 down after 81 minutes to 10-man Dundee last time out, but the Ayrshire side came roaring back for their first league victory of the campaign.

Now Derek McInnes must turn his attention to improving home form, usually such a strength.

Killie are winless in five top flight games at Rugby Park (D3 L2), which is their longest run since a bleak sequence of nine from May-November 2017.

The problem is Rangers are Sunday's opponents and they have won four of their previous six visits. The Ibrox team have also kept seven clean sheets in their last nine games.

After a slow start, Kilmarnock have certainly improved in front of goal, scoring eight in their last three outings, but McInnes will need to tighten up a defence that has conceded 17 in seven to have a chance of repeating his win over Rangers on the first day of last term.