With the winter chill well and truly arriving, Walter Smith and his Rangers side are sitting most comfortably atop the SPL at the turn of the year. A seven point lead over bitter Old Firm rivals Celtic has given them a fantastic opportunity to pull clear and secure a 53^rd domestic title.

The recent goal fest during which striker Kris Boyd overtook former Bhoy Henrik Larsson’s Scottish goal-scoring record further enhanced the Ger’s 09/10 championship credentials. With Tony Mowbray’s Celtic faltering and still seeking the form that brought them back-to-back titles under Gordon Strachan, Scotlands ’two-horse race’ seems to be turning into the one-horse variety this season.

Capital club Hibernian remain the closest challengers to the big two but are four points adrift of a Champions League qualification place. Dundee United are a further five points behind but after losing manager Craig Levein to the international squad, their ability to keep pace may have been weakened.

Falkirk prop up the table but are within a win of Kilmarnock with a game in hand. With Hamilton, St Mirren and St Johnstone all within a couple of wins of them, the battle to stay in the SPL could be a lot closer this year than in previous campaigns.