Celtic Women host Rangers Women in a Glasgow derby that could prove decisive in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) title race, with the hosts trailing the league leaders by nine points after just 11 games.
Grant Scott's side are looking to keep their fading title hopes alive, while Rangers Women arrive at the Kirkintilloch Community Sports Complex on an unbeaten run and aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Rangers' Dominant Start
Leanne Crichton's Rangers have made a flying start to the season, sitting eight points clear of second-placed Hearts and nine points ahead of their derby rivals. The Light Blues secured an 11th consecutive league victory with a 1-0 win over Hearts at Broadwood last weekend, maintaining their unbeaten start to the SWPL season thanks to Katie Wilkinson's first-half strike.
Rangers also ran out 5-2 winners in the first derby showdown of the season back in September, leaving Celtic with revenge on their minds.
Celtic's Form and Team News
Celtic's recent form has been shaky, with Motherwell scoring three times after the interval to send them crashing to a 3-1 defeat. Addie Handley's first Celtic goal briefly brought Scott's side back into contention, but it was not enough.
Euan Birch has been named as the referee for the match, with Kai Newell and Matthew McAlpine as assistants and Stuart Broadfoot as the fourth official.
Title Race Implications
Crichton missed out on the title to Hearts last season and also suffered defeat to Glasgow City in the Sky Sports Cup, but that disappointment appears to have fuelled the side this season. She is on track to claim her first piece of silverware for the Ibrox trophy cabinet.
Scott, who has his own trophy collection from his time at Hibs where he lifted the league title alongside two cups, will have plenty to say about the destination of the silverware before the season is through. A win for Rangers on the road could all but rule their rivals out of the title race after just 12 games.
