IN TYPICALLY pragmatic style, Rangers manager Dick Advocaat made the point yesterday that, whatever the hype surrounding the Old Firm games every season, winning the league is not about beating Celtic. ''Celtic showed that themselves last season.''
If nothing else, that is a clear illustration that Advocaat and his meticulous assistant, Bert van Lingen, do their homework retrospectively as well as currently.
They are quite right, of course, as the Parkhead team lost three times out of four to their rivals but still finished at the top of the premier division to put an end to the 10-in-row ambitions of the then Walter Smith-managed side.
None the less, other studies could illustrate years when it was indeed the crucial factor in winning the title.
There is no argument, however, with another Advocaat assesment: ''We are not about about to change everything just because we are playing Celtic, although we know they are a good team. We think we are a good team, too.''
The manager had disturbing news about one new player who has yet to show his talents to the Ibrox fans, Daniel Prodan.
The Romanian defender may need to go through a knee operation before he can start his Scottish career after signing from Atletico Madrid for #2.2m.
The central defender is still having pain and has managed only two reserve games since he arrived in Glasgow. He is due to see a specialist before a decision is made.
Still, compared to Celtic, who have major injury worries, Rangers are relatively well off, although Arthur Numan remains out of contention alongside long-term absentees Gordon Durie, Jonas Thern and Seb Rozental.
Gabriel Amato, who missed out because of knee problem in the 1-1 draw with Beitar of Jerusalem, is fit to play.
On all known form, Advocaat will make few changes, but it may be that Amato and Jorg Albertz, who came on to score the equaliser against the Israeli side in the UEFA Cup-tie, will be in from the start.
''I am quite happy with the way things have been going and we will go into Sunday's game with confidence,'' said Advocaat.
''I have not been at an Old Firm game before, but I was in Scotland discussing my contract with David Murray when I watched it on TV last season. Of course I noticed how much everyone in Glasgow was focused on the game and we know what a win means to the fans.''
He described the game he saw as 'very exciting.'
He went on: ''Hopefully, it will be a good, exciting game again. Both teams like to play good football, but the passions will be high among the fans. Obviously, as we are at home, we will be favourites.
''You have to remember that Celtic had eight internationalists in their team when they won the title last season and they have been playing together for a year.
''We have been together for only two months, but the players we have brought in are experienced at high levels.
One man relishing the prospect of a meeting with Celtic is defender Craig Moore who continues to play well enough to keep Scotland captain Colin Hendry waiting on the sidelines.
''We have had a lot of games in a few weeks but, after the day off yesterday we are all fresh and ready to go again.'' he said.
''As far as my own situtation is concerned, all I can do is try to keep playing consistently. At the end of the day that is what counts and Colin doesn't come into it.
''What I have to do is build on what I have done so far. ''
He recalled playing in all four of the Old Firm games in the nine-in-a-row season - ''overall I have won more than I have lost.''- but he did lose on his debut derby, at Hampden in the game after Rangers had already sewn- up the championship.''
The Australian does not think that having so many new men in the game is necessarily a big draw-back.
''They will go into it free of any feelings about it and believe it is a normal game, while others know different.
''They'll learn what is about all right and maybe they will say so after it is all over.''
Moore, whose own request to play at centre half was heeded by Advocaat and has resulted in his regular inclusion ever since, made the point that invariably Old Firm games are determined by whichever team gets it right on the day.
Recent form is not an infallible guide to the outcome, as so many of his predecessors have discovered throughout the years.
BOOKIES' VIEW: Rangers 11-10, Celtic 9-4, draw 9-4.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article