Motherwell look set to play in next season's Champions League after Rangers ended Dundee United's hopes with a 5-0 win at Ibrox on Wednesday.
Rangers' triumph, achieved thanks to goals from Sone Aluko (2), Steven Whittaker, Jamie Ness and Alejandro Bedoya, guarantees Motherwell third place in the Scottish Premier League - they are eight points ahead of Dundee United with just two games to play.
And with Rangers' current financial problems highly likely to make them ineligible for European football in 2012/13, Stuart McCall's side now look set to play in the Champions League, starting in the third qualifying round.
Rangers got off to a flier on Wednesday and were 3-0 up inside 20 minutes.
Ness and Bedoya added gloss in the second half to give the suffering Ibrox fans something to cheer.
At the other end of the table, Hibernian moved within touching distance of safety with a priceless 2-1 win at Aberdeen.
That result, coupled with bottom club Dunfermline's goalless draw at Inverness, means Hibs are now five points clear of the drop zone with just two games to go.
Like Rangers, Hibs got off to a flier at Pittodrie, going 2-0 up inside 17 minutes via a Mark Reynolds own goal, which came following a Leigh Griffiths cross, and Sean O'Hanlon's header.
Scott Vernon reduced the deficit shortly after half time for the Dons but Hibs held on for all three points.
Meanwhile, Dunfermline were unable to find a way through at Inverness, who are now mathematically safe.
In fact, Caley Thistle had the better of the game in the Highlands but wasted a number of chances, Graeme Shinnie the most culpable.
Dunfermline must now win their remaining two games - starting at Hibs on Monday - to stand any chance of staying up.
In the night's other game, St Mirren won 2-0 away to Kilmarnock. Goals from Paul McGowan (9) and Steven Thompson (45) saw the Buddies climb to eighth and they are now within a point of seventh-placed Killie, who missed a second-half penalty when Dean Shiels was denied by Craig Samson.
