=== Short-handed Hearts ordered to play ===

Edinburgh, Scotland (Betting Express) - The Scottish Premier League will still have a full slate of games this weekend after a request by Hearts was denied to postpone its match with Iverness.

Hearts was looking to move Saturday's home game to a later date after the flu has hit a significant number of its first team players.

"The Board expressed considerable sympathy for the position that Heart finds itself in," said SPL's Company Secretary Iain Blair. "The Board looked in detail at the player availability and concluded that the game should proceed."

A doctor ordered Stephen Simmons, Paul Hartley, Mark Burchill, Marius Kizys, Kevin McKenna, Neil MacFarlane, Jamie McAllister, Lee Miller, Michael Stewart and David McGeown all to miss practice due to the illness. In addition, Robbie Neilson and Steven Pressley have already been ruled out for the game.

Hearts boss John Robertson, who has also been affected by the flu this week, will be in search of his first league win in four outings, while a healthy Inverness squad has not lost in SPL action since a January 15, decision at Dundee.

Also on Saturday, Celtic will look to tighten the gap on first-place Rangers as it welcomes Dunfermline. Second-place Celtic is expected to be without Chris Sutton due to a hamstring injury, but will hope to cut the deficit behind Rangers to just one.

Rangers will have to wait until Sunday to take the field at Dundee in the day's sole match.

Celtic has won two in a row, while Rangers are coming off a 1-1 draw to Iverness.

The top two should each walk away with three points this weekend as their respective opponents have just six wins apiece all season.

Capping of the SPL on Saturday: Aberdeen hosts Hibernian in a matchup for third place; Kilmarnock seeks it first victory in four games against Dundee United; Motherwell is in search of its third win against Livingston this season as it makes the road trip.

WEEKEND PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES:

SATURDAY:

Aberdeen - Hibernian

Celtic - Dunfermline

Hearts - Inverness

Kilmarnock - Dundee United

Livingston - Motherwell

SUNDAY:

Dundee - Rangers