Brendan Rodgers’ rampant Celtic will kick-off their quest for a seventh straight Scottish Premiership title against Hearts on Saturday, August 5.

The Parkhead champions completed an astonishing 47 domestic games without defeat last season as they wrapped up a treble clean sweep.

And they will now set about extending their incredible run when the Jambos visit Parkhead for the traditional flag raising ceremony as the 2017/18 Ladbrokes Premiership season gets under way.

Pedro Caixinha’s new-look Rangers open their campaign away to Motherwell on the same date, although the fixtures announced by the Scottish Professional Football League yesterday morning could yet be switched for TV coverage.

And the Ibrox faithful − buoyed by eight new arrivals already this summer and news of a peace deal struck between chairman Dave King and Mike Ashley − will be keen to see how their side fares against their Old Firm rivals when the Hoops arrive in Govan on Saturday, September 23 for the first derby clash of the new term.

Gers suffered two humiliating 5-1 drubbings at the hand of their bitter foes last season and will be hoping Caixinha’s recruitment drive has closed the gap significantly.

The big two are pencilled in to face off again at Celtic Park on Saturday, December 30 before returning to Ibrox for the season’s third showdown on Saturday, March 10. The final Parkhead clash of the campaign is expected to take place after the top-flight split.

Last year’s runners up Aberdeen are also in a positive mood after managing to fight off Sunderland’s interest in boss Derek McInnes.

The Dons manager has lost five of his key men from last year but hopes to have quality replacements in place by the time his Pittodrie side get their season under way at home to Hamilton.

Hibernian − back in the top division after a three-year absence − get started against Partick Thistle at Easter Road before heading to Ibrox to face Rangers a week later on the weekend of August 12.

Opening programme
August 5: Aberdeen vs Hamilton; Celtic vs Hearts; Dundee vs Ross County; Hibernian vs Partick Thistle; Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone; Motherwell vs Rangers.

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