For Celtic, this is about authority as much as points. Trips to Kilmarnock can become physical, scrappy and uncomfortable if the visitors fail to impose themselves quickly. That makes the opening spell important.
There is also attention on the dugout. A club update this week said manager Martin O'Neill had undergone a small procedure and was expected to be released soon, after missing training on Friday. Whether that becomes a distraction or a rallying point is one of the weekend’s subplots.
For Kilmarnock, the task is clear:
Rangers at home will expect to control the game, but Hibernian are the kind of opponent who can make a match messy if given encouragement. This feels like a fixture where tempo matters. If Rangers move the ball quickly, they can pin Hibs back. If not, frustration can creep in.
The pressure is different here. It is not about surviving a difficult away ground; it is about looking convincing.
This is still early season football, but the themes are already familiar: favourites trying to set the pace, challengers trying to disrupt it, and every result shaping the mood for the next round. By Sunday night, the table will still be young - but the noise around it may already be louder.