Professor Jason Leitch, Scotland's national clinical director has admitted cautious optimism over the chances of the Scottish Premiership 's August 1st target date being met.
Celtic began training this week with Rangers and others set to begin meeting in small groups from Monday.
Scotland is making progress in bringing COVID-19 under control and as the data continues to show that the all important R rate is coming down, the chances for games being allowed increase.
The Bundelsiga, Serie A and La Liga have already returned under closed door, with England's Premier League also coming back next week.
And Leitch tentatively admitted further good news in battling the killer infection will mean that August 1 becomes more realistic.
He admitted on Off The Ball: "We've had another good week.
"I am more hopeful this Saturday than I was last Saturday but I'm still cautious. Gradually as we move things seem to be going in the right direction.
"Things are beginning to fall into place that would allow us to put another layer of pencil over that date. But it's still early days."
