The Scottish Premiership rumbles into the eighth round of fixtures this weekend.

With the table taking shape panic has started to set in for some. Ross County were the first top flight side to act by sacking Jim McIntyre, leaving other managers to look cautiously looking over their shoulder.

Here we predict what will be up for discussion come the Monday morning coffee break, before the small matter of a do-or-die international double-header for Scotland takes centre stage.

The news that Scotland's dynamic midfield duo Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong picked up injuries during Celtic's 3-0 win over Anderlecht is a bitter pill for both club and country to swallow.

However, as is always the case, such misfortune opens up doors for others to step in and showcase their talent. Callum McGregor will have the opportunity this weekend to prove a point to both Brendan Rodgers and Gordon Strachan, making his case for a late call-up to the national side in the process.

While the 24-year-old has failed to nail down a regular starting spot at Celtic Park, impressive cameos in pre-season and whenever called upon have seen many tout his credentials.

Both at Ibrox and in Belgium the midfielder replaced Tom Rogic with the remit of keeping possession via quick one-touch passing, something he carried out to the letter.

Now, courtesy of Armstrong and Brown's bad luck, he has the opportunity to impose himself from the off.

The Falkirk board were first to blink this season, sacking Peter Houston after last weekend's defeat to Livingston, with 77-year-old Alex Smith taking temporary charge. Less than twenty-four hours later a top flight outfit followed suit when Ross County disposed of Jim McIntyre. Such is the speed of the managerial merry-go-round, Owen Coyle had taken up that role by Thursday afternoon.

Both dismissals showcased the cut-throat nature of football management and have left managers up and down the country cautiously glancing over their shoulder just in case their board fancies pulling the trigger any time soon.

Kilmarnock boss Lee McCulloch insists he is under no pressure and has the backing of the board despite failing to win one of the first seven league games. He will be fully aware a win is required against Ross County though to keep it that way.

In the Championship Inverness gaffer John Robertson is equally as confident of completing the long-term project he has began in the Highlands despite a "bruising" return to management.

It's not just managers of sides falling below-par that are under the spotlight, the media glare will also be on Neil Lennon and Owen Coyle this weekend.

Coyle takes charge of the Staggies for the first time in what could be an early relegation six-pointer when County travel to bottom side Kilmarnock.

Once touted for top jobs in the English Premiership, Coyle - who arrives in Dingwall via Houston and Blackburn - has seen his stock fall over the last couple of years. But such a nomadic existence means the 51-year-old possesses notable experience, which he hopes can reinvigorate a County side which had gone stale.

"Football is the same game," he told STV. "There are different levels but Ross County are at the highest level of Scottish football, which is a high level in itself.

"I come here, I don't have any ego. I come from the Gorbals in Glasgow, from a family of nine and I love the game of football."

Lennon makes his first visit to the opposition dugout at Celtic Park on Saturday when his Hibs side look to put an end to Celtic's 57-game unbeaten run. Hibs have impressed in the early fixtures and visit Glasgow with a punchers chance of causing an upset against a Celtic side missing influential performers in Brown and Armstrong.

Brendan Rodgers for one is taking nothing for granted, insisting his counterpart is a brilliant manager capable of managing any team.

Second face fourth on Saturday when St Johnstone travel to Aberdeen. Despite a summer splurge and convincing win over Hamilton on Friday night, Rangers have started the season in inconsistent fashion while Hibs are still acclimatising to the rigours of the top flight. The winners of Saturday's battle at Pittodrie will fancy their chances of being the closest challengers to Celtic this campaign as a result.

Aberdeen bounced back from a thrashing at Fir Park in the League Cup by winning at the same ground three days later on league duty thanks to Andy Considine's strike. While they have yet to truly find their groove, perhaps due to a hangover from last May's Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic, the Dons remain undefeated in the league and possess players of attacking prowess in Ryan Christie, Stevie May and Greg Stewart.

With such a big squad, McInnes has yet to settle on a trusted starting eleven however and has been chopping and changing personnel as he looks to find that magic formula. Should he continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation he favours the onus will fall on those in the attacking positions to click if the Dons want to crack a notoriously tough nut in St Johnstone.

The pace of Michael O'Halloran makes the Saints particularly effective on the break. They are well set up to grab wins away from home and will be intent on upsetting the apple cart once again.