As always, it s pretty much a foregone conclusion that only Celtic and Rangers will battle it out for the SPL title, but third place is shaping up into an interesting battle in my opinion, which is good news that will keep the interest in the league high as the season draws into it's latter stages. Currently third are Mark M*ghee's Motherwell who lead fourth placed Dundee United by just one point (played 23 points 41), but somewhat crucially have not one, not two but three games in hand over Craig Levein's team, who are on played 26 points 40. Even 5th placed Hibs, played 25 points 35 and 6th placed Falkirk, played 26 points 35 are still being considered.

So who do you think will clinch that third place? Will Motherwell capitalise on their three game advantage? Or will Dundee United do enough?

a think motherwell are jus goin 2 edge ahead of dundee utd and hibs hve left it too late now.

I'm going for Dundee Utd. Lost a bit of form of late but still fancy them to get their finger out. Suppose without Bazza Robson it's not going to be easy though

It's going to be interesting that's for sure, but I'm going to go for Motherwell to claim third. I think that three game advantage is crucial, and Dundee United have been largely affected by the loss of Robson and have undergone, as Rone said, a serious drop in form. Motherwell have players in scorching goalscoring from, the likes of McCormack and Porter.

Those who still day Falkirk and Hibs are in with shout should surely also be counting bloody Inverness? They are two points of Falkirk with a game in hand.

I would prefer Falkirk to get it to be honest. they have treid to play football over the season and are very good to watch but tend to get bullied of the pitch by the more physical sides. Yogi has done a fantastic job with them this year but think the young Latapy will be a loss when he retires

Good post. I do admire Falkirk for their attempts to play decent football, but as you said at times they can be out muscled by 'bigger teams'. If i had to choose a team i would like to finish there it would be them, as it pains me to see any Mark McGhee team have any success whatsoever. However i feel Motherwell really have the form and appetite to do it.

McGhee leave Reading on bad terms then?

Lets just say that Pardew became 'the new Mark McGhee'.

Hopefully Motherwell but Dundee United got a very good chance

Do you think Hibs have left it to late Rone?

I think they have the best side out of the chasing teams and more than capable of making up the ground. Motherwell have a few games in hand too but ones against us so scrap that and I also think they have played the bottom 3 sides of late so the other games in hand will be against tough opposition. I expect the 3 of them to be close come the end of the season but think Hibs might have just abit too much to do to make it up

Yeah same, I think it's just a little too far out of reach.

Hibs have a better side than Dundee United?

Explain please

What would you like me to explain? Man for man, Hibs have a better team. plus United lost their star man/captain/set-piece taker/top scorer so that'll be a big hinderance

Man for Man they dont or they wouldnt be below Dundee United and they would also be in a cup final!!

When they drew 1-1 Hibernian were very lucky

Man for man who is better, Celtic or Rangers? Yet we trail them by four points.

A good point there, Celtic man for man definetly have the better squad over Rangers.

Will see by end of the season but up to now Rangers in a cup final so far.

I hope Dundee United clinch 3rd spot, and I'm also hoping they 'do the double' of the Cup and 3rd, would be a fantastic achievement albeit a big ask without Barry Robson.

I thought it was a nice story after the semi-final, with their owner fighting cancer and looking like like he's not got much time left - apparently he got out his hospital bed to make the semi and stood there crying at the end clapping the team.
The manager was almost crying too during his after match interview and said he'd never wanted to win a match so much in his career...fingers crossed he can hang on and see The Arabs play the Final - and a fitting tribute it would be too if they lifted the cup.

I hope they can do it with regards to both the Cup and the League also, mainly because I do not want to see Mark McGhee live an ounce of success, yet I have serious reservations about them achieving either. Motherwell still have those three games in hand over United, beginning tonight with a home tie against Inverness, and i feel they could just put it out of reach of Dundee. The Cup final will be a glorious day out for them no doubt, but they face a solid Rangers side who have conceded just once in 2008 without the key penetration of Barry Robson, although i hope they can do it.

arse...I think Motherwell won last night.

See the thread about the game mate below.

They beat Inverness 3-1.

Motherwell are definately finishing 3rd! Followed by Dundee Utd then Hibs i think.

We (Hibs) are starting to pick up again now and Fletchers on lethal form. Him and Nish remind me a lot of the Riordan and O'Connor partnership.

Bad thing about Hibs now is Mixu seems to be abandoning Hibs traditions of fast flowing, attractive football and instead playing long balls to Nish who will feed through to Fletcher. Our squad is a lot stronger (physically) than ever so maybe this is the right path to take.

Latapy alone deserves to be playing European football. Hes single handedly kept Falkirk where they are and hes fantastic to watch. Total legend in my eyes. Mad to think he smokes like a chimney and still keeps so fit though eh!

Like Caniggia he smoked non stop. Same as Socrates

Its mad to think athletes smoke so much, Ardiles did too back in the day.