The winter transfer window is set to open and offer both opportunities and potential threats to clubs.
We look at the scenarios facing each Ladbrokes Premiership club.
ABERDEEN
Dons boss Derek McInnes' main priority this month is to secure a longer-term deal for on-loan Norwich midfielder James Maddison. Canaries boss Alex Neil will only allow the £3million-rated talent to stay at Pittodrie until the end of the season if he can secure his own transfer targets, however. Defender Callum Morris has already been released while youngster Craig Storie is expected to join St Mirren this week.
McInnes said: "We will be trying to see what we can do. It might be offset by one or two boys moving on that haven't had regular football. When I've got a fully-fit squad as I've got just now, you wouldn't think there is much need to do too much. But it would be remiss of me not to look to see if there are one or two players out there that can maybe help us finish even stronger.''
CELTIC
Brendan Rodgers is likely to focus on adding quality rather than quantity to his squad as he eyes up next year's Champions League qualifiers. Kris Commons should make his emergency loan to Hibernian a permanent switch and Efe Ambrose, Dedrick Boyata and Nadir Ciftci could follow out of the Parkhead exit door.
Rodgers said: "January is an important month, but you have to stay calm. We're thinking about the process of getting in a few players and bedding them in, having them up and running by the time you come back in for pre-season."
DUNDEE
Paul Hartley will allow frustrated frontman Rory Loy to head out on loan after dropping down the Dens Park pecking order but the boss will see his defensive options boosted by the return of captain James McPake early in the new year after more than 12 months out injured.
Hartley said: "We are working hard to try and strengthen. We don't just want to add a number for the sake of it. If we can get a bit of quality we will look to bring somebody in."
HAMILTON
Martin Canning is desperate to add some extra firepower to his side, with only Kilmarnock having netted fewer times than Accies this season. He will also have to decide whether to extend former Arsenal youngster Lennard Sowah's deal until the end of the season or look elsewhere for cover at left-back. Keeping hold of top-scorer Ali Crawford, however, may be the most valuable thing he can do.
Canning said: ''The backing is always there from the owners and the chairman, but it's got to be someone we feel can add value to the team. We are a small club and we can't afford to carry dead wood. We have got to make sure it's someone who can come in and add to the starting 11."
HEARTS
Hearts had been hoping for a potential £1million-plus windfall by selling right-back Callum Paterson but that has been scuppered by a knee injury which will rule the Scotland international out for 10 months. Director of football Craig Levein says new boss Ian Cathro will be given money to make signings although Paterson's setback may reduce the funds he has to work with. Tony Watt has already been sent back to Charlton after failing to shine on loan.
Cathro said: "The window brings an opportunity to assess what we can possibly do. It's a difficult window so we're not obsessed about it but I think there will be opportunities to improve what we have available.''
INVERNESS
Richie Foran will spend the next month trying to shore up a defence which has shipped more goals than any other so far this term. But he will also be mindful that he may have to find replacements for out-of-contract duo Greg Tansey - who has rejected a new deal - and Josh Meekings.
Foran said: "Every player can be replaced. Finding the replacements is the hard part but we will see what happens in January."
KILMARNOCK
Lee Clark signed 17 new players in the summer but admits further surgery is required to his squad if they are to avoid relegation. He has five players whose loan deals expire in January, including right-back Luke Hendrie, which could free up space for Clark to make fresh moves this month.
Clark said: "I thought I was only going to be bringing a couple of players in but I might need to wheel and deal to change things. We need to be able to handle injuries better than we have. I will be looking for good players and experience will help."
MOTHERWELL
Mark McGhee is considering bringing former Scotland midfielder Stephen Pearson back to Fir Park for a third spell after his contract with Indian outfit Atletico de Kolkata expired. The Well boss would also like to tie midfielder Lee Lucas down on a longer contract as he enters the final days of current deal while a left winger would be a useful addition. Dom Thomas has gone on loan to Queen of the South but Luka Belic has been sent back to West Ham after failing to make the grade in Lanarkshire.
McGhee said: ''We have a little bit of flexibility in terms of the budget. We won't be going out and buying players but we have something in the budget where we can maybe sign one or two, whether it's on loan or, in the right circumstances, permanently. If there's anyone a wee bit surplus and they do move then that would help even more but it's not dependent on us moving anyone out.''
PARTICK THISTLE
Alan Archibald would like to strengthen his midfield ranks having been left short on cover by long-term injuries to Stuart Bannigan and Gary Fraser. He may also look to add a defender to his group but the impending return of Mustapha Dumbuya after six months out with an Achilles problem will be a welcome boost. Midfielder David Wilson has joined Stranraer on loan.
Archibald said: "We are looking to do a little bit of business, maybe one or two. We have got a couple of long-term injuries, hopefully Mustapha can come back so that will maybe help. He will start playing games hopefully when we are away over the winter break, and if he is okay then hopefully we will only need one or maybe two players."
RANGERS
Mark Warburton is looking to add a creative touch to his midfield after losing injured playmaker Niko Kranjcar for the rest of the season. His former Brentford charge Jota is reportedly a likely target but the Ibrox boss will only make a couple of signings, most likely loans, after his seeing his 11-strong summer influx largely flop.
Warburton said: "It is far more dangerous to bring in too many than too few. We have one or two that we're looking at and if we can get them over the line then all well and good."
ROSS COUNTY
Jim McIntyre will hope he can see out the next four weeks without losing 13-goal poacher Liam Boyce. But the Staggies boss will only look to make additions if he can find a player who overs both quality and value for money.
McIntyre said: "I won't say we are not going to do any business because I don't know. If the right player becomes available then we will certainly look at it."
ST JOHNSTONE
Tommy Wright is unlikely to do any business during January and will instead make keeping hold of his current squad his priority. Saints have 12 players out of contract next summer, with the likes of top scorer Danny Swanson among them.
Wright said: "We have no plans to bring anybody in. My main concern, and obviously I will be speaking to the chairman about it, is starting the process for next season in getting ones re-signed as quickly as possible, and make sure we have the core of the team so that in the summer we are looking for two or three to add to try to improve the squad."
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