With an international break around the corner, Scottish Premiership clubs jostle for more important points.

Motherwell, Ross County and Hibernian are looking to snap long runs without a victory.

Things are looking up for St Johnstone after taking four points from their last two games and they have an opportunity to move off the bottom.

Here are just some of the things to look out for.

Game of the week- Celtic v Aberdeen

Celtic may have some frustration to vent following a Champions League chastening away to Atletico Madrid as they chase a domestic milestone.

The unbeaten leaders dropped points following their previous meeting with the Spaniards, having looked leggy in a goalless draw at Easter Road.

However, they have an advantage this time since Aberdeen, who have lost 33 of their last 35 league visits to Celtic Park (W1 D1), must contend with a much shorter recovery time from their European exploits.

The Dons have struggled to balance Thursday-Sunday fixtures, picking up five points from five games in the immediate aftermath of continental skirmishes.

Graeme Shinnie, Bojan Miovski and Leighton Clarkson had their minutes managed in a creditable 2-2 draw away to PAOK, which ended hopes of going any further in the Europa Conference League.

However, Celtic chose to withdraw key players like Callum McGregor, Kyogo, Matt O’Riley and Luis Palma as Atletico piled in the goals at the Metropolitan Stadium and Daizen Maeda only played 23 minutes before his red card.

Last season, Celtic scored 12 without reply in four successes against Aberdeen, while they were 3-1 winners at Pittodrie in the early days of this campaign.

The champions have not lost in 49 home league games (W42 D7), having gone 50-plus just once before. That was a run of 53 from July 2001 to April 2004 under Martin O’Neil, which just happened to be halted by the Dons.

Player to watch – Nicky Clark (St Johnstone)

St Johnstone can climb off the foot of the table by taking maximum points at home to Ross County and Nicky Clark looks like the man most likely to provide the firepower.

The 32-year-old has banged in three goals in his last two appearances following a welcome return to fitness.

That’s as many as Saints managed collectively in their opening nine matches.

The good news for Clark and co is no side has faced more shots (179) or more shots on target (69) than Ross County. The bad news is the Dingwall side have lost just one of their last seven league visits to Perth (W3 D3).

Manager in focus – Stuart Kettlewell (Motherwell)

Motherwell were level on points with leaders Celtic after four matches but haven’t won a game since beating Hearts at Tynecastle in early September.

The last eight outings have delivered a paltry two points, with the Steelmen slowly drifting in the wrong direction.

Now it’s time to face Hearts again and manager Stuart Kettlewell will want to see more of the spirit that earned a midweek draw in Perth and less of the dozy defending that gifted St Johnstone a 2-0 lead.

Motherwell have won five of their past six home meetings with the Edinburgh side and could really do with rediscovering the industry and organisation that earned them that 1-0 away victory in the capital.