McLean calls the title tune.

The four contenders for the Scottish League championship line up against each other in fierce conflict on an afternoon which may well become the most momentous in the history of the premier division.

At Tannadice, Heart of Midlothian, the leaders, meet Dundee United, who are three points behind but have a game in hand.

At Pittodrie, Aberdeen and Celtic, who jointly command third place, five points behind Hearts but also with a game each in hand, know victory is essential if either club is to remain in contention.

It is an intriguing situation, but the most popular view is that the winners of the match in Dundee should become the champions.

A draw, of course, would restore the winners of the Aberdeen game to a more favourable position in the race.

Although Hearts beat Dundee United in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup last week, the Tannadice team have recovered from that disappointment so well that they beat St Mirren convincingly in mid-week and are confident that they can turn the tables.

That is the opinion of the shrewd Jim McLean, who bases his prediction on a sound judgement.

'Hearts,' said the United manager, 'are the best team in the League and are playing to their strengths.

But I do not think they have much scope for improvement while, on the other hand, we can only improve on last week's display.

But this time we will not allow them to play it their way but call our own tune.

'

Aberdeen are beset by injuries but their home record against Celtic is impressive and they realize that defeat would end their hopes of winning a third successive championship.

Rangers are determined to climax with a victory in one of their most dramatic weeks, which saw the arrival of Graeme Souness as player-manager.

Alex Totten, the assistant to the deposed Jock Wallace, is in charge of the team at Clydebank and he springs a surprize, bringing back MacDonald, a forward, who has long been out of favour, and dropping Cooper, the international wing.

Taken from timesonline.co.uk