STUART DOUGAL will referee Saturday's Old Firm SPL showdown at Ibrox.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan will have taken a keen interest in the appointment given that he has twice been sent to the stand by the whistler in recent seasons, although the four-game ban for his second offence was quashed after two separate appeals.

Rangers gaffer Walter Smith will be in the stand following his dismissal from the touchline in a recent cup game against Hibs.

Other SPL refs - Falkirk v Kilmarnock (W Collum), Hearts v Dundee Utd (E Smith), Inverness CT v Aberdeen (D McDonald), Motherwell v Hibs (K Clark), St Mirren v Gretna (D Somers).

Irn-Bru First - Dundee v Clyde (S Finnie), Hamilton v Partick Th (C Richmond), Livingston v Stirling Alb (A Muir), QofS v Morton (C Charleston), St Johnstone v Dunfermline (M McCurry).

Irn-Bru Second - Airdrie Utd v Ross Co (G Salmond), Alloa v Ayr Utd (S MacDonald), Berwick v Peterhead (A Boyd), Cowdenbeath v Brechin (S Conroy), Raith Rov v Queen's Park (A Law).

Irn-Bru Third - Dumbarton v Stranraer (S McLean), East Stirling v Albion Rov (W Hornby), Elgin v Arbroath (S O'Reilly), Forfar v East Fife (S Nicholls), Montrose v Stenhousemuir (F McDermott). Liverpool's Javier Mascherano is facing a three-game FA ban and £100,000 club fine after his red card against Man United.

The Argentine continued to plead his innocence today over his controversial dismissal for dissent at Old Trafford.

He has apologised to his team-mates for his furious reaction to being sent off by referee Steve Bennett and his refusal to leave the field. In today's English papers Alex Ferguson reckons Man United will win title at Chelsea on April 26. David Beckham feared Steve McClaren had wrecked dream of 100 caps. John Terry will be England captain.