Suddenly, the skies are clearing for troubled Glasgow Sports Division, and their first Scottish League title will be clearly on the horizon if they can beat Midlothian Bulls in a crucial clash at Easterhouse tomorrow (3.15).

Glasgow's great rivals, Paisley, did them a huge favour this week by beating Bulls 80-70 in the league at Linwood, a result which means the champions now have four defeats compared to Glasgow's one, and leaves them with a mountain to climb if they are to take the title for a historic 11th year in a row.

Glasgow policeman Stewart Glass was the home hero, scoring 20 points as Paisley turned a 43-48 deficit into an unlikely victory with a fine second-half show.

''We stepped up our defence and generally played a more up-tempo game,'' said a delighted Paisley coach lan McDonald, whose team had gone down 87-68 to Glasgow in the Scottish Cup quarter-final last Sunday.

The Paisley result will also give heart to Edinburgh Burger Kings, who have been drawn at home to Bulls in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup after an upset 58-54 home win over Falkirk's Clark Eriksson Fury.

Glasgow are away to St Mirren McDonalds in the other semi, with the ties due to be played by February 28.

St Mirren are by no means out of the league title race yet either, having lost three times, and their next test will be at home to Fury next Friday night.

Glasgow may have drawn the short straw in the Scottish women's cup semis, but at least they have home advantage over holders Polonia Phoenix, whom they have already beaten this season.