IT’S finally here. After a long, hot summer watching a thrilling World Cup in Russia, it is time for the domestic league season to start in Scotland. And I, for one, cannot wait.

As a player, there was always something special about the opening league game of a new campaign. The sun was usually shining, the fans would be out in big numbers and the unknown in terms of new personnel in the teams you would come up against was exciting. The anticipation – and in some cases trepidation – from the fans going into this weekend will be palpable. A good pre-season, European run or Betfred Cup campaign will see punters turn up in their droves to stadiums around the country with hopes and dreams that maybe, just maybe, it will be their year.

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A turgid 90 minutes and defeat usually bursts that bubble pretty quickly, but a victory on the opening day? It’s definitely our year. A gubbing, though? Well that usually leads to a bit of soul-searching in a darkened room that evening. For fans and players.

So let’s take a look at the Premiership and how t could pan out this season. Of course, Celtic will again be overwhelming favourites to make it eight in a row and edge ever closer to the magical 10. In terms of the squad, Celtic are stacked in every department; but perhaps a quality centre-back will be brought in to bolster them in Europe. Of course the ongoing chase of John McGinn would make them unbelievably strong in the middle of the park.

I fully expect Celtic to win the league again but not as comfortably as in recent seasons. That’s because I reckon Rangers under Steven Gerrard will push them harder and be vastly more competitive than they have been. Which, to be honest, wouldn’t be that hard. Gerrard seems to have sorted out what was a dreadfully soft central defence by bringing in Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic. Both look very solid and with the durable Jon Flanagan in that back four as well with Allan McGregor behind them, it looks a significantly stronger back line. The enigma that is Alfredo Morelos has been more miss than hit so far but if he can find the kind of form – and more importantly, the attitude – that prompted some big bids from China last season then he will again be a threat at the other end. I see Rangers finishing second and finally taking a point or two off Brendan Rodgers' Celtic.

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It really is a hard one to call between Hibs and Aberdeen. It could come down to the transfer business both do between now and the end of August. There was little to separate them last season but if Hibs lose John McGinn, which looks sadly for them inevitable, on top of Dylan McGeouch then that’s a massive hole to fill. Aberdeen again have a settled squad and the consistency they have shown against the rest of the teams in the league has been remarkable. I see them just edging Hibs to third spot. But both, in particular a swashbuckling goal-laden Hibs side, will be fun to watch.

Then it starts to get a little more difficult. The remaining two top-six spots I think will be filled by Hearts and St Johnstone in that order. Hearts had a terrific home record under Craig Levein last season at Tynecastle but they simply need to correct their dreadful away record. The up-and-at-'em approach on a tight Tynecastle pitch works a treat but the same hasn’t applied away from home. They need to find a different approach on the road. Keeping their talisman Kyle Lafferty again will be key.

St Johnstone finally plateaued last season under the wily Tommy Wright but that just showed how well they have done in recent times. They have set unbelievably high standards. The signing of Tony Watt could be inspired. He is a lad who needs an arm around him after a tough couple of years and to get a run of games. In big Tommy he will get that. I hope he doesn’t waste another opportunity because I know from personal experience that they start to run out pretty quickly. His ability has never been in question. Let’s hope he delivers on that initial promise in Perth.

Some will be surprised that I don’t have Kilmarnock in the top six but I think they will find it more difficult this season. Under Stevie Clarke they were superb last year, but the loss of Youssouf Mulumbu is a huge blow and whether the evergreen Kris Boyd can reproduce another wonder season in terms of goals is questionable. People know all about Killie now and will be ready for them. They are no longer a surprise package under the terrific Clark. I see them in seventh.

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Motherwell and Dundee will not be in a relegation dogfight and should finish comfortably above the bottom three in eight and ninth respectively. The Well saved their best for the cup competitions last season and in one-off games will continue to be a tough nut to crack. A lack of a proven goalscorer will hamper them, as it will Dundee. Both play vastly contrasting styles but both will share the same problem: a lack of goals. Dundee need to upgrade Sofien Moussa to have any chance of sneaking into the top six.

That leaves Livingston, Hamilton and St Mirren to scrap it out at the bottom. Livingston have that bounce factor from two successive promotions and a guy in Kenny Miller who should get 10-15 goals. He could prove their saviour on and off the pitch. St Mirren need to bring quality in as their squad looks thin. But I think they will just edge out the great survivors Hamilton Accies who, after years of hovering above the trapdoor, will finally, in my opinion, drop out the league.

Whatever happens, it is sure to be another exciting season in the crazy world of Scottish football. Bring it on.