Celtic travels to Hearts in first key game of Scottish Premier League season

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -Just one week into the season and there's already a match between the top title contenders in the Scottish Premier League.

Defending champion Celtic travels to Hearts on Sunday, with both clubs coming off season-opening wins.

Celtic raced away with the league last season, clinching the title on April 5, with Hearts finishing 17 points behind. The Jambo's broke the annual Celtic-Rangers lock atop the standings, and took consolation from a League Cup and Champions League qualifying place.

The Edinburgh side is on a high after progressing to the third qualifying round of the Champions League, and new acquisition Hristos Kapridis is ready for his debut after his transfer from PAOK Salonika on Thursday.

"I know a lot about Scottish football and that the league is very strong. I know a bit about Hearts also and I am happy to have joined the club,'' the Greek defender said.

Though the 22-year-old Kapridis might get his first taste of Scottish soccer in one of the season's key games, Celtic will struggle to field two first-choice strikers.

Kenny Miller's starting place is in doubt after he picked up a hamstring strain in Japan, while forward Shaun Maloney is out after hernia surgery.

Despite a 4-1 win over Kilmarnock to open the season, Celtic is struggling with confidence after traveling 6,000-miles (9,656-kilometers) to Japan only to lose 3-0 to Yokahama F Marinos in a friendly.

Manager Gordon Strachan made few signings in the offseason and the defeat in Japan showed the squad is lacking depth.

"What has been shown highlights the fact we have 16 good players, who can handle any conditions and any team. And, if we do not play most of them, we would have a problem,'' Strachan said. "So, that is the immediate problem - to keep these 16 players as far as possible, keep them ready for the games.''

Two players Kapridis will need to keep an eye on are Polish striker Maciej Zurawski and Czech's Jiri Jarosik. Zurawski scored twice against Kilmarnock, while Jarosik marked his league debut by heading in the winner.

Hearts spent little money in the offseason, and owner Vladimir Romanov says the emphasis this season will be on youth.

Rangers new signing Filip Sebo, acquired from Austria Vienna, could make his debut Saturday at Ibrox against Dundee United as the club warns its fans to be on their best behavior.

UEFA said Rangers could face a European competition ban should it fail to eradicate sectarian songs and chants this season. The club was fined ?19,500 (US$25,000) by UEFA in May for discriminatory chanting by supporters during the Champions League tie against Villareal.

In Saturday's other games, Aberdeen hosts Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dunfermline travels to Falkirk, Kilmarnock faces Hibernian, and St. Mirren takes on Motherwell.