GLASGOW (AFP) - Georgios Samaras believes Celtic can beat Motherwell on Saturday and then win their remaining seven games to snatch the Scottish Premier League from Rangers.

The Greek international striker remains defiant despite the Parkhead side trailing their Glasgow rivals by six points after losing 1-0 at Ibrox last weekend.

Celtic have also played a game more but, with two Old Firm games to be played, Samaras remains confident he and his teammates can get their hands on silverware this season.

He said: "We are under pressure now but we must show a lot of character and focus on the games.

"All we can do is work hard and try to have a 100 percent record in our last eight games. If we do that I think we still have a good chance.

"The aim must be to win every game and then we will see what we get. If we win all of them then we have done the job we set for ourselves at this point and the rest will take care of itself."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is also confident his side can put the pressure on Rangers.

However, he admits they will find it tough to win against fourth-placed Motherwell who are managed by his former Aberdeen teammate and close friend Mark McGhee.

Strachan said: "It's going to be hard for us now to win the title and it's a horrible situation to be in when it's out of your hands.

"We need to win every game now but it's possible that we can do that. On Saturday it will be a tough game for us against Mark's Motherwell. They had a good win against Hibs on Saturday and we know we'll need to be at our best."

Motherwell are currently level on 49 points with third placed Dundee United and are battling for the UEFA Cup place that comes with below the top two.

However, on Saturday they will be without joint top goalscorer David Clarkson who is suspended for two games.

Rangers, who were held to a 0-0 draw in their UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg clash by Sporting Lisbon at Ibrox on Thursday, will face one of the toughest matches they have left when they visit Tannadice on Sunday to take on Dundee United.

The Gers had to come from behind twice against Craig Levein's side in the Scottish League Cup Final to eventually win the trophy on penalties.

United also beat Rangers 2-1 in the league in October and last month held Celtic to a goalless draw in Glasgow.

In the other games on Saturday, Hibernian, who are in fifth place on 47 points, will look to keep their UEFA Cup challenge on track by winning at home to second bottom St Mirren.

Relegated Gretna are at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a match which could set a new record for the lowest top flight attendance which was set last month when only 501 watched Gretna lose 3-0 at home to Dundee United.

Hearts must win away to Kilmarnock if they are to have any chance of making the top six.

With only one game left to play before the league divides into two sections of six teams, the Tynecastle side are level with eighth placed Aberdeen on 41 points, but a point and three goals worse off than sixth placed Falkirk.

A win for Hearts would almost certainly knock Aberdeen out of the equation with the Dons five goals worse off than the Edinburgh side.

No matter what happens on Saturday, Falkirk will have their destiny in their own hands when they travel north to face Jimmy Calderwood's Dons on Monday at Pittodrie.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Celtic v Motherwell, Gretna v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hibernian v St Mirren, Kilmarnock v Hearts.

Sunday

Dundee United v Rangers (1300 GMT)

Monday

Aberdeen v Falkirk (1845 GMT)