Preview: St Johnstone vs. Celtic

Celtic have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to six points when they meet St Johnstone on Saturday afternoon.

The six-point advantage may last for just a day, but it will be a big boost to Ronny Deila's side before second-placed Aberdeen return to action against Hamilton on Sunday.

However, Deila and his players could be forgiven for looking ahead to next Thursday's Europa League clash with Inter Milan when he names his side for the trip to St Johnstone.

Inter's arrival in Glasgow for the first leg of the last-16 tie has understandably got the Celtic supporters excited, but Deila will be keen to avoid a setback before that meeting with Roberto Mancini's side.

Mikael Lustig is already out with an ankle injury, while Kris Commons will miss the game against St Johnstone as he looks to recover from a thigh problem in time to face Inter.

Despite being without two key players, there was a boost for the champions this week as debutants Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong made an instant impact by scoring in a 3-0 win over Partick Thistle on Wednesday evening.

That victory made it seven successive wins in all competitions for Celtic, and they will be confident of repeating the 3-0 triumph they enjoyed over St Johnstone in the opening week of the season in August.

St Johnstone have won just one of their last six league matches, and Tommy Wright must attempt to rally the players following last weekend's surprise defeat to Queen of the South in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

Despite the disappointment in that competition, Wright is unlikely to make major changes, but Michael O'Halloran could be set for a recall in attack.

St Johnstone:

Form in Scottish Premiership: LLWLDD Form in all competitions: LWLDDL

Possible starting lineup: Mannus, Mackay, Anderson, Scobbie, Easton, Wotherspoon, Lappin, Davidson, Swanson, McFadden, O'Halloran

Celtic:

Form in Scottish Premiership: DWWWWW Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Gordon, Matthews, Denayer, Van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Bitton, Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Armstrong, Guidetti

Sports Mole says: 0-2