SPFL bosses are facing the nightmare scenario that Kilmarnock and Ross County could be in a position to deliberately play for a draw in their final fixture to ensure Motherwell are consigned to the Premiership play-off.

Currently the Lanarkshire side trail Kilmarnock and County by three points with two matches to play in the battle to avoid 11th place.

If all three teams achieve the same results this weekend and the points difference remains the same for the last day on Saturday, May 23 then a real problem will emerge for Chief Executive Neil Doncaster and his team.

Gary Locke's side host the Highland outfit and any kind of draw would guarantee that both sides will finish above Motherwell.

Kilmarnock and County could simply play for a stalemate and even if Motherwell win their final fixture at home to Partick Thistle it would prove futile.

It's the last thing the SPFL wants after a series of fixture scheduling issues, most notably when they were forced to climb down on the staging of Hearts v Rangers on the last round of the Championship.

It could be construed as a moral dilemma for Locke and his opposite number Jim McIntyre because they may feel they have a duty to try to win the match.

However, the ramifications of relegation are considerable in terms of a dramatic decrease in revenue - even if it is soothed by a £500,000 parachute payment - and the fact that there is no guarantee a demoted team will get back up in one season.

Former Rangers star Peter Lovenkrands has been involved in two similar situations and he can understand if Kilmarnock and Ross County ensure that neither side wins which would, in turn, secure their continued presence in the top division.

He played at Easter Road 10 years ago on Helicopter Sunday when Rangers were leading Hibs 1-0 waiting for news of Celtic's game at Motherwell and the match developed into a farce as it was a result that suited both sides.

Hibs did not press the game because it was a scoreline that qualified them for Europe ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference and Rangers simply knocked the ball across the back-four hoping that Motherwell would score and they duly did - twice - to hand Alex McLeish the title.

"I would assume Kilmarnock and Ross County would start the match trying to win it," said Lovenkrands.

"But if it comes to the middle of the second-half and they are still goalless then you could understand why both sides would be cautious.

"It's not a great scenario for the SPFL but sometimes these things happen in football.

"Back in 2005 I was involved in the same type of scenario when we were one up against Hibs which gave us a chance of the championship and ensured they were in Europe.

"We were just knocking the ball about at the back and they were happy to let us do it while we waited to hear what was happening at Motherwell.

"When we got the goal it suited both teams so there was no way either side was going to force the issue. I guess the same thing could happen at Kilmarnock on the final day."

Dane Lovenkrands was also involved in a remarkable derby with local rivals Sweden at Euro 2004 when the 2-2 result between the two sides eliminated Italy from the tournament.

He recalled: "I was on the bench that night in Porto and it was amazing that the game finished 2-2. It suited Denmark and Sweden perfectly but Italy were not very happy. In fact they were very angry.

"The Italians were screaming that it was all planned, but Denmark-Sweden is a rivalry and we wanted to win that game. We wanted to knock them out rather than keep them in it.

"However, what I will say is that when the Swedes got their late equaliser it definitely suited both teams to play out for the whistle.

"There was no doubt that both sides were a bit nervous that one of them might get knocked out. Both teams realised that 2-2 meant they were both through so they definitely played for it at that point."