Premiership clubs will take another step towards ending the four-month Covid-19 lockdown on Monday when SPFL chiefs release the new season’s fixture list.
The top 12 will discover key dates for their calendar at 9am when the league publishes the top flight schedule ahead of the August 1 start date.
Doubts remain over when and how fans will be allowed back into stadiums with Record Sport this week revealing Celtic’s hopes of testing socially distanced attendances ahead of their flag day.
Nevertheless all eyes will be on the SPFL release on Monday morning with key dates including the curtain raising Premiership fixtures, the first Old Firm derby of the season and the first New Firm derby for over four years.
Scotland’s top clubs face a seriously congested schedule with Champions League and Europa League qualifiers scheduled to start in August for Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell and Aberdeen.
Scotland also face a series of seven - hopefully eight - massive matches between September and November as the Nations League and Euro 2020 play-offs earmarked for a hectic spell.
SPFL secretary Ian Blair has already warned of the “enormous stress” facing the league with Scottish Cup and Betfred Cup dates also still to be worked in.
Blair said: “The stress on the SPFL fixture calendar next season is going to be enormous, with a real risk that some clubs will be forced to play four games in eight days, which we always try to avoid.
“And that’s even before we consider the impact of the Scottish winter and the high risk of cancelled matches due to adverse weather.
“We have already been obliged to cancel the winter break next season because we absolutely needed those extra three potential match dates, but even with that, I think it is going to be tighter than at any time in my 22 years working for the SPFL.”
