Celtic in line for major post-split fixture advantage over Rangers as title race looks set to go the distance

CELTIC are in line to benefit from a potentially crucial Old Firm fixture imbalance in their sprint to the title with Rangers - IF the current make-up of the top six remains the same.

With NINE games left until the split there's still a fair distance to go - but whatever happens things look destined to go down to the last few post split fixtures - if not down to the last day.

The Scottish title race went down to the last day in '98, '03, '05, '08, '09 and '11.

With the margins potentially every bit as thin this season, every advantage is potentially magnified.

And with five of the top six spots suddenly looking at least fairly secure, it's currently only sixth placed Dundee who are still looking nervously over their shoulder.

The Dens men have a three-point advantage on the chasing pack for sixth with a game in hand - although that is against Neil Warnock's Aberdeen.

And the annual bunfight over the post-split fixtures could see Rodgers' men handed a major advantage when it comes down to the final weeks of the season.

That's because when they hit the split this season, Celtic will already have played 17 away matches and 16 home matches.

By contrast, Rangers will have played 16 away matches and 17 home matches.

The match which will balance that out, of course, is the final Old Firm match of the season - which will be played at CelticPark.

While some teams can be asked to play more home or away matches, the two Old Firm sides are ALWAYS asked to play 19 home and 19 away matches.

It is at this point league schedulers desperately hope that both Glasgow giants will have played two of the other top six teams away from home twice already, and two of them twice away already.

Unfortunately for them, if the current top six remains, that WON'T be the case.

In a nutshell, should things remain this way, Celtic will get an extra home game against either St Mirren, Kilmarnock or Dundee - and be spared one tricky away trip.

The Hoops have lost TWICE already at Rugby Park this season in two different competitions.

Rangers, on the other hand, will be forced to make another away trip to either St Mirren, KIlmarnock or Dundee - while missing out on their second home meeting with one of three.

It's a problem which could be averted entirely should either Neil Warnock's Aberdeen, Hibs or Motherwell claim that bottom spot in the top six at Dundee's expense - but the Dens Park men have defied the odds thus far and could continue to do so.

It's not the only headache for the schedulers should the title race go to the wire.

They'll face a major dilemma on where in the schedule to place the final Old Firm fixture of the season - and whether to give Celtic or Rangers the potentially crucial advantage of a home match on the final weekend.

Celtic won the title at home in '98, with Rangers doing likewise in '03 - with both teams asked to travel away (Celtic to Motherwell and Rangers at Hibs) in '05.

Both teams were asked to play away on the final day of the last season when Celtic won the title on the last day in '08 too.

Celtic had home clashes in the East End of Glasgow when Rangers claimed the title at Tannadice in '09 and Rugby Park in 2011.