Sunday lunchtime will see the top two sides in the Scottish Premiership clash in the Old Firm at Ibrox. Rangers head onto the match with a fantastic opportunity to narrow the gap to just 3 points, turning up the heat on their rivals from across the city, in a title race that looked all but over at the turn of the year.
Rangers recent form and style has play has seen a change in momentum, the fans are more confident heading into the match than we have been in a good while. The sides will meet twice more this season, once after the split and then again in the Scottish Cup semi-final, so it provides the light blues a fantastic chance to lay down a marker for those encounters.
Here are the 5 storylines to follow v Celtic.
1-WILL MURTY DROP CUMMINGS
Jason Cummings is coming off not only a hat trick but a highly all round impressive performance against Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday, yet big questions still hang over his place in the starting line up.
If as expected Murphy is passed fit I can’t see a place in the side for Cumdog. Personally I would play him in favour of Josh Windass who has failed to capture his form away from Ibrox on home soil, however both you and I know he is a Murty favourite and his place is all but guaranteed.
Although, Alfredo Morelos didn’t have the best of games either on Sunday I would in no way consider dropping the Colombian forward. He brings so much to the game other than his obvious goal threat, as he showed in the last encounter at Parkhead in December.
If there is no place in the first eleven for Cummings he is not a bad option to introduce off the bench, a sign just how far we have come in a short space of time.
MORE RANGERS STORIES
2-WHO PLAYS FROM ALVES, BATES & MARTIN
For me it has to be Martin and Bates who start at the heart of the defence. Alves may have the greater pedigree in footballing terms but his form and fitness is not at a level he his capable of.
Russell Martin has been steady and sometimes that’s all you need when playing his position, I feel it is of no coincidence that David Bates performance levels have risen whilst playing alongside the Scottish internationalist.
The fact they have this understanding and more than a few matches playing as a pairing, sees Martin and Bates get the nod for me.
3-HALIDAY OR JOHN
What a difference 8 weeks can make ?. All the big decisions surrounding this game for the Rangers boss are around selection issues.
This is in stark contrast to last encounter, forced to play Niko Krancjar, a pale shadow of the player he once was, for more than 80 minutes at Parkhead, simply highlighted the sheer talent deficiency that existed at that time. No longer is that the case.
Andy Haliday appears to be a player who has found his confidence again, if forced or picked to start at left back it will not be met with the sighs and outcry it would have been not so long ago.
I suspect we will see John take up his role on the left, providing the Celtic defence with cause for concern when going forward, credit must go to Haliday, bouncing back at a time when many had written his Rangers career off.
4-DOCHERTY VS BROWN
This is a battle that Rangers must win in order to take any positive result. Far too often we have allowed the Celtic captain to come into our house and dictate the tempo of play. Greg Docherty has been magnificent in the last few weeks, after an unspectacular first game in the light blue.
Docherty is a real gem of a player and will surly be relishing the prospect of making his mark in an Old firm game. He has not only the passing ability but can get stuck in when required.
This is a battle to keep a close eye on throughout the course of the match.
5- 0-0
Goals, goals, goals. Rangers fans have been spoiled in recent weeks, the side playing a free flowing, fast paced attacking football that has been extremely easy on the eye for all, you just know a 0-0 Is around the corner.
Any victory by any margin is welcome, I just hope we can continue to display the intensity and attacking prowess we have since the turn of the year.
PREDICTION
Rangers 3 Celtic 2
I’ve gone for a game for the ages, with Cumdog coming off the bench to score a 87th minute winner. What do you think? Get in touch, let me know.