Scottish Premiership season preview: can anyone stop Rogic and Celtic?

Tom Rogic's Celtic are searching for an unprecedented eighth straight title when the Scottish Premiership resumes this weekend.

The Wizard of Oz is one of five players flying the Australian flag in the top flight of Scottish football.

SPL WATCH: Celtic's pre-season summary

CHAMPIONSHIP WATCH: Hull City's pre-season summary

Here’s a look at all the key information you need to know ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season.

TITLE CONTENDERS

Can anyone stop Celtic?

The Bhoys have claimed the last seven top flight titles in Scotland and will enter the 2018/19 campaign as firm favourites once more.

Their supremacy in the domestic scene scaled new heights last season when Brendan Rodgers' side became the first Scottish team to secure back to back trebles.

In order to break the club's grip on proceedings, the challenging pack will have to raise their standards significantly and hope Celtic's Champions League campaign proves an unsettling influence.

Aberdeen arguably resemble the closest contenders.

Derrick McInnes’ side have developed into the second-best team in the country for the last four seasons but they'll need to kick on yet again in order to reel Celtic in.

And their task will be made all the more difficult after the departures of veteran forward Adam Rooney and midfield generals Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie.

Celtic’s rivals Rangers finished third in 2017/18 and will hope the appointment of Steven Gerrard as manager propels The Gers toward a proper title tilt.

The Liverpool icon arrives at Ibrox carrying the twin labels of ex-superstar and talented next-generation manager, but will his name alone be enough to weather the huge expectations at the Glasgow club?

Gerrard has also overseen a major rehaul since taking the helm, and he'll need to prove his coaching reputation immediately for Rangers to mount a title challenge.

Gerrard

STAR PLAYERS

If Rangers are to sustain a credible title charge they’ll likely need the goals of Alfredo Morelos.

The 22-year-old Colombian striker joined the club at the beginning of last season and netted 17 goals and eight assists in all 43 matches.

An exciting penalty box poacher, the South American was only dwarfed in the league’s top scorers chart by Kilmarnock veteran Kris Boyd.

Boy has led the top-flight’s scorers charts four times in his career and helped Steve Clarke’s side to a top six finish for the first time in seven years in 2017/18.

In contrast to the grizzled Scottish 34-year-old, Celtic’s Moussa Dembele is one of the divisions most prized young assets.

The 22-year-old Frenchman has scored 50 goals in 90 total appearances for Celtic after joining the club in 2016.

After injury struggled curtailed his impact last season, the forward is due a big season as Rodgers' men aim for eight in a row.

Dembele

NEWCOMERS

Aaron Mooy’s former club St. Mirren will return to the top flight after securing the second division title and promotion in April.

They’ll be joined by Livingston, who were promoted in their play-off final win over Partick Thistle, and have been handed the daunting challenge of Celtic away first up.

THE AUSSIES

Tom Rogic - Celtic

Tom Rogic joined Celtic in 2013 and has slowly progressed from promising young squad member to the poster boy for the Scottish Premiership.

The Wizard of Oz has become also become a firm fan favourite at the club following a catalogue of memorable moments for the team over the past few seasons - including a stunning late winner against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final in 2017.

Rogic's close control and intelligence is nearly unparalleled in the competition, and the lanky playmaker should be set for another standout season at Celtic Park.

Ben Garuccio - Heart of Midlothian

Rogic might be the top dog within the Scottish top flight but he could soon have a rival in former Adelaide United flyer Ben Garuccio.

Garuccio, one of three Australians plying their trade for Hearts, caught the eye of the Gorgie-based club after his exceptional 2017/18 campaign for the Reds.

He's already endeared himself to the Tynecastle Park faithful: instrumental in the team’s forward play, he opened his account with a fantastic free kick last week.

The 23-year-old's progress for the Jam Tarts this season will be interesting to monitor.

Oliver Bozanic - Heart of Midlothian

Oliver Bozanic is back in the United Kingdom after an eight year absence, and he'll be hoping to spur Hearts back up the table this season.

The former Reading youth featured for Hyundai A-League outfit Melbourne City last season and has already offered strong signs in two league cup appearances so far.

Ryan Edwards - Heart of Midlothian

The final player in this Australian Hearts' trio is Ryan Edwards, who signed on from Partick Thistle in June.

Edwards is a renown midfield workhorse - he'd featured in 87 of Partick Thistle's last 89 games before signing for Hearts in June.

He's also a hugely versatile midfield presence, capable of playing at the base of a midfield two or at behind the striker. Edwards' diligence has also seen him stationed on the left side of midfield.

Andy Rose - Motherwell

The Melbourne born midfielder played most of his senior football in the United States before joining Coventry City in 2016.

But after suffering a knee ligament injury in March 2017, he was moved on by the League One outfit and found a new home at Fir Park.

Rose featured heavily for Motherwell last season - playing 40 matches in total, and he was rewarded with a fresh one-year deal in May.