Scottish football weekend betting preview and tips

3pm Saturday

Kilmarnock can take a giant step towards securing third spot and a guaranteed return to European football by beating a deflated Aberdeen.

The Ayrshire men have had a wonderful season and have embarrassed the Dons, Hibs and Hearts - all of who have substantially bigger budgets - by being above them in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

They are likely to lose miracle-worker boss Steve Clarke at the end of the season either to manage Scotland or to return to England.

But his legacy should be a third-place finish with a talented and strong Killie squad he has built. Their underrated midfield duo of Alan Power and Gary Dicker have been superb and they are particularly strong at Rugby Park.

Aberdeen used to be a hoodoo for Killie, but they smashed their jinx this season with a win at Pittodrie and they won't get a better chance to beat Derek McInnes' side who capitulated again last week at Hampden in a trademark lamentable loss to Celtic and are without the suspended Lewis Ferguson in an already-thin squad.

Killie are unbeaten in six and can plunge the Dons into more gloom.

Stranraer can just about guarantee their Ladbrokes League One survival by defeating Brechin City at Stair Park.

Stevie Farrell's side have produced two massive wins in a row against highflying Forfar and a brilliant comeback success at Raith.

Brechin did get a draw at an Arbroath side who are already on their holidays last week, but previously they had been struggling.

They could easily be staring down their second relegation in a row and Stranraer can push them closer to the exit.

In the same division, Montrose can continue their surprise playoff push by beating Airdrie at Links Park.

The Angus side have been the surprise package of this league this season after finally escaping from Scottish football's bottom division after 22 seasons.

They have thrived and are bang in form at the right time with three out of four wins.

Stewart Petrie's side can end Airdrie's slim hopes of landing a top-four spot. They were disappointing last week against bottom side Stenhousemuir, and the Gable Endies can add to a great season.

Recommendations
Kilmarnock
2pts 17-10 Betfair
Stranraer
2pts 6-5 bet365, Betfair, Hills
Montrose
1pt 27-20 Hills

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