Fancy seeing you again! Celtic begin new campaign at home to Kilmarnock

Celtic will kick off their Clydesdale Bank Premier League season at home to Kilmarnock for the second year running as Rangers face the long trip north to Inverness.

The Hoops are scheduled to unfurl the league flag before taking on the Ayrshire men on Saturday, August 4.

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Rangers and Celtic fans will have to wait until October 20 for the first Old Firm clash of the season but the New Year's derby returns with the pair due to meet at Parkhead on January 2.

Supporters of the Edinburgh teams do not have nearly so long to wait for a chance to claim the local bragging rights with Hearts playing Hibernian at Tynecastle on the first day of the season.

Celtic will be hoping to repeat their flying start to last season's successful title defence, when Maciej Zurawski's double helped them to a convincing 4-1 win over Killie.

And the Hoops could be setting their sights on an early lead over Rangers, who play an Inverness side against whom they secured just one point in three games last season.

Gretna will play their first SPL game against Falkirk at Fir Park, forcing Motherwell's new manager to make his competitive debut at St Mirren, who the Steelmen have not beaten in five games.

The season kicks off in style on Tayside with Dundee United facing north-east rivals Aberdeen at Tannadice.

While Rangers face a difficult trip in their opener, Celtic must travel to Falkirk and Aberdeen in their subsequent games before hosting Hearts.

And Walter Smith's men have home advantage to look forward to in their second and third games with St Mirren and Falkirk visiting Ibrox.

While Smith and Old Firm rival Gordon Strachan have plenty of time before their first SPL meeting of the season, they will not get too much time to prepare their players.

Their Ibrox clash comes three days after Scotland's Euro 2008 qualifier in Georgia.

But Old Firm fans will welcome the return of the New Year's game - the teams last met on a January holiday in 2004 when Celtic won 3-0 at Parkhead.

Outside of the big two, Aberdeen face a tough start as they host Hearts and then travel to Hibernian either side of their game against Celtic.

Gretna make the journey to Edinburgh in consecutive weeks immediately after their SPL debut before playing a 'home' game against landlords Motherwell on August 25.

The league campaign takes a two-week break in September, October and November as Scotland close their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Looking further ahead, the first scheduled midweek games will take place on Boxing Day when Celtic visit Dundee United and Rangers host Motherwell. There are more midweek games on January 2 and February 27.

And the third Old Firm derby is scheduled to take place at Ibrox on March 29, a week ahead of the final round of matches before the 12 teams split into two sections.