But here come the discrepancies. As well as the Dundee derby, United will have one other home game after the split but all four of Aberdeen, Killie, Livi and St Mirren have been to Tannadice in the league twice already this season. One will have to make a third trip, though it is unlikely to be north-east rivals Aberdeen.
There is a similar dilemma with Kilmarnock. They are due to have two home games, with probably one of those against United.
However, Aberdeen, Dundee and St Mirren have all already been to Rugby Park twice this season. One of those three will need to make a third trip to East Ayrshire.
Bottom side Livi should travel to St Mirren, but they have already visited each of Aberdeen, Dundee, United and Killie twice and will face a third trip to one of those four clubs.
Livi are 11 points adrift and would be a maximum of 14 points adrift with five games to go if they lose their last game before the split – hence, while favourites for automatic relegation, it will not be arithmetically confirmed until after the post-split fixtures are announced and at least one round of them have been played.
No matter which way you cut it, the SPFL faces an unenviable task in scheduling the Premiership’s final five rounds of fixtures.
After this weekend’s games, the Premiership will take a two-week hiatus to accommodate the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Then, from the weekend of 25 and 26 April, it is top-six and bottom-six fixtures through until mid-May, with the cup final and relegation play-off taking place thereafter.
