Brendan Rodgers confesses Celtic hold key advantage over Rangers this weekend

Brendan Rodgers admits Celtic hold a key advantage by playing before Rangers this weekend.

The Hoops can take a major step towards the title by defeating Hearts at Parkhead tomorrow - just under 24 hours before Gers host Kilmarnock at Ibrox. A victory would move the reigning champions SIX points clear of their Old Firm rivals and potentially within one game of securing three-in-a-row ahead of next week's monumental Glasgow derby.

Rodgers confessed playing first does give Celts the chance to pile the pressure on Philippe Clement's Treble-chasers, who must win all of their remaining games to stand a chance of being crowned champions.

He said: "Listen, I can sit here and lie and say no. But scoreboard pressure is always there. However, it counts for nothing if you don't do your job. I think if you're playing second, of course you'll know the other team's result, but primarily you have to focus on yourselves. It can certainly add weight, especially at this time of the season."

Rodgers was today named Premiership Manager of the Month for April after overtaking stuttering Rangers in the league table with seven points from nine.

He said: "I think the players have been great and obviously got the results. Awards like that are always testament to everyone both here [Lennoxtown] and at the stadium and clearly the players. We won't take too much heed to it. We're coming into an exciting period now with these remaining games so our focus is very much on picking up team awards rather than individual awards."