Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland
Published
Twelve months ago, Celtic were seconds away from their first SWPL title.
The champagne was iced, the party tunes picked, and the green and white ribbons adorned the trophy which league managing director Fiona McIntyre was hurtling with towards Celtic Park.
Then, the breaks were slammed on, a three-point turn performed, and the direction of travel switched to Ibrox.
Lauren Davidson's last-gasp goal against Rangers in Govan whisked Celtic's hopes away in agonising fashion as Glasgow City celebrated a 16th championship victory.
Fran Alonso's players were left in a state of shock. Despondent on the Parkhead turf, they were unable to comprehend what had unfolded across the city.
That sort of heartbreak can derail a side. Or, as we have seen this season up until now, it has been one that has driven them.
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The final destination of the trophy this campaign is not a given, but this time it's all in Celtic's hands.
Elena Sadiku's team are level on points with Rangers, but with a goal difference 16 ahead of their rivals, the script couldn't be simpler. Win against Hibernian and they're champions.
Yet Rangers will be ready to pounce if Celtic slip up against a Hibs side aiming to send captain Joelle Murray into retirement on a high. For that reason, Celtic know their name is far from already being etched into the silverware.
If what's being served at the top of the table isn't intriguing enough, there's uncertainty aplenty at the foot, too.
Hamilton Accies and Dundee United are in a race to avoid the automatic drop, with the other side offered a top-flight lifeline in the form of the play-offs.
Accies went bottom after the penultimate round of fixtures but have clawed their way out of this precarious position time and time again.
There are no promises Sunday will match the wild nature of last year, but drama is destined to unfold and the BBC has it covered.
History on the horizon
Image source, SNS
After Sadiku - Celtic's first female head coach - lost her opening league game against City, her side trailed then leaders Rangers by six points.
Since that Sunday in January, they have been near-flawless on their charge to the cusp of championship success.
With three draws amid a sea of wins and a particularly impressive post-split unbeaten run, picking up a 26th win of the campaign is all that's needed for this crop of players to write their names in the history books.
Involved in 43 of the 125 goals scored, Amy Gallacher's name will be one of the first scribbled down.
She hobbled off against Hearts in midweek so is a doubt to face her former side Hibs.
What is in no doubt, whether for 60 seconds or 60 minutes, is that Gallacher's former team-mate and Hibs legend Murray will take to the field for one final time.
How she would love to close her glittering chapter with a win. How Rangers would love that too.
Jo Potter and co gifted the former Scotland international a bouquet of flowers on her last encounter. If she and her side manage to cause an upset and leave the door ajar for Rangers, something of greater grandeur should be in the post.
In the event Celtic do drop points to Hibs, Rangers only need to better their result.
So again, the message is simple in both camps. Win, and what happens, happens.
Don't look down...
In similar vein, that's all both Dundee United and Hamilton Accies can do at the bottom.
Accies trail by one point and one goal. Talk about tight.
United picked up that potentially priceless point in an eyebrow-raising draw at Aberdeen on Wednesday to climb out of 12th spot and ensure they hold the cards for the finale.
But the trickiest of tasks await against Motherwell. Paul Brownlie's side have ended the season in scintillating form. A 10-game unbeaten run and 25 post-split goals is no mean feat.
Hamilton Accies will hope their Lanarkshire rivals can extend that run to offer a glimpse of hope, knowing they need a favour from elsewhere.
Bobby Watson's side host Montrose, who they are yet to get the better of this season. There was a complete collapse in March at Links Park, where Accies conceded seven second-half goals.
It dented the goal difference quite considerably, and given how tense it is in the table, that might be one of the results they're left to rue if they can't spark the great escape once more.
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- Scottish Women's Football
- Scottish Football
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