For Ross County, Dundee United and Kilmarnock, the race to avoid being bottom of the Premiership during the World Cup hiatus has entered the final straight.
Three games left.
It may seem an arbitrary battle, given there will be 66 points to play for in the second half of the campaign.
But propping up the division for the duration of the break would be an undoubted blow to morale.
County currently sit at the foot of the standings on goal difference, level on nine points with United. Kilmarnock are three points ahead of the struggling pair.
Here, Courier Sport analyses each side’s remaining fixtures ahead of a crucial seven days.
Dundee United fixtures
Celtic (A), November 5
United face the most onerous challenge in Scottish football this weekend when they travel to Parkhead.
Celtic may be fresh from a 5-1 defeat against Real Madrid on Champions League duty, but Ange Postecoglou’s charges — one defeat against St Mirren aside — have been imperious in the Premiership.
The Hoops have won 11 of their 12 league games this term and scored 41 goals in the process. They have secured five wins out of five on home soil, finding the net 16 times and conceding just twice.
That is before one even considers the humiliating 9-0 defeat the Tangerines endured against Celtic at Tannadice in August; the death knell for Jack Ross’ 10-week spell in charge.
In short, as close to Mission: Impossible as United could imagine.
A win — or even a draw — could prove fanciful, but the Arabs will demand guts, desire and organisation in Glasgow.
Kilmarnock (H), November 9
A bona fide six-pointer.
A golden opportunity to pick up a pivotal victory against another side involved in the basement battle.
Just three points separate the sides — although that could change after this weekend — and that relative parity has been reflected in the meetings between the sides this season.
The teams crossed swords at Rugby Park on the opening day on the Premiership calendar, with United turning in their finest league showing under Ross. A heartbreaking injury-time leveller by Ash Taylor cancelled out a Dylan Levitt screamer.
Kilmarnock then knocked the Terrors out at the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final stage, with a Dan Armstrong header settling an even contest.
A meeting at Tannadice is a relative rarity. In a peculiar quirk, seven of the last meetings between United and Killie have taken place at Rugby Park.
Aberdeen (A), November 12
Another challenging away day looms for Fox’s men.
The Dons’ form may be a little erratic — particularly on the road — but Jim Goodwin has got them motoring at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen have won four of their five Premiership matches at home and hammered Patrick Thistle in the Granite City on Scottish Cup duty.
Nevertheless, as illustrated when Courier Sport analysed United’s last five Premiership fixtures (below) against every side in the division — done prior to their defeat against Motherwell last Saturday — the Tangerines have a decent New Firm record.
A repeat of the 4-0 win for Fox’s men last month would do just fine going into the World Cup hiatus.
Ross County fixtures
St Mirren (H), November 5
While United are attempting to overcome the odds at Celtic Park, County have an eminently more winnable game at home to St Mirren.
Indeed, given their other two games before the break, it is bordering on must-win for the rock-bottom Staggies.
However, as United — and plenty of other clubs, including Celtic — have found to their cost, St Mirren are a tough nut to crack.
The Buddies have beaten United twice in the Premiership and won 1-0 against County at the SMISA Stadium earlier this term.
Hibernian (A), November 8
County will have an opportunity to steal a march on United in midweek, playing 24 hours earlier than their drop-zone foes.
Nevertheless, their task is a tough one.
Hibernian currently occupy the ‘best of the rest’ berth and have only lost once on home soil in the Premiership this season.
The Hibees emerged as 2-0 winners in Dingwall earlier this term — Ryan Porteous and Martin Boyle on the score-sheet — and will be firm favourites to repeat the feat in Edinburgh.
Celtic (A), November 12
Everything said about United’s trip to Celtic Park can be parroted for County’s visit next Saturday.
While the Tangerines can at least reflect on a 1-1 draw last season, the Staggies must go back to April 2016 for the last time they emerged from an away league match at Parkhead with anything to show from it.
On that occasion, Stewart Murdoch cancelled out a Leigh Griffiths opener. He would join United two months later.
Kilmarnock fixtures
Livingston (H), November 4
Derek McInnes’ men could extend their lead over United to a daunting six points with a victory over Livingston under the Friday night lights.
Killie have a fine home record this term, losing just once — against Celtic — while Livingston have won a sole Premiership match on the road.
However, the Lions can draw confidence from their victory against the Ayrshire outfit in September, with the excellent Cristian Montano — also a match-winner at Tannadice this season — notching he only goal in a 1-0 triumph.
Dundee United (A), November 8
While we have already touched upon this fixture, from a purely Killie perspective it is worth noting the absence of both Christian Doidge and Kyle Lafferty.
The towering duo caused havoc as a pairing when these sides last met — taking advantage of the Tangerines’ recent weakness from wide deliveries — but McInnes will be forced into a rethink.
Hibernian (H), November 12
Killie will be back at their Ayrshire fortress in the final fixture before the World Cup break, with Hibs the visitors.
McInnes’ charges will be keen to make amends for a narrow 1-0 reverse earlier this term — with Taylor sent off after just 11 minutes.
Conversation