SPL season fixtures 2011-12: Rangers meet Celtic at Christmas
Rangers will have home advantage in the first Old Firm derby of the Scottish Premier League on 17 September but the second clash against Celtic will be played shortly after Christmas at Parkhead on 28 December.
Ally McCoist, the new manager at Rangers, will have home advantage for his first SPL match in charge. His side will begin the defence of their title with a home match against Hearts on the opening day of the season – Saturday 23 July.
The league's runners-up, Celtic, who finished a point behind their Old Firm rivals in the SPL last season, also face Edinburgh opponents on the opening day. Hibernian await Neil Lennon's side at Easter Road.
The SPL newcomers Dunfermline, who ensured a return to Scottish football's top tier after a four-season absence by winning the Division One title last season, have home advantage on the opening day against St Mirren.
In the other openers, Aberdeen take on St Johnstone at Pittodrie, while Terry Butcher takes his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side to another team he has managed – Motherwell.
Dundee United and Kilmarnock meet in the first round of SPL fixtures – but the clash has already been put back to the following day, Sunday 24 July.
In the first division, the two sides promoted from the second division, Ayr and Livingston, will both open their campaigns at home against Hamilton and Queen of the South. Raith Rovers – runners-up in Division One last season – will play Falkirk, also at home. View the full fixture list here.
In Division Two, Forfar will begin their campaign for promotion against Cowdenbeath at home, while Stirling, relegated from Division One last season, will play East Fife at home.