Just 99 days on from their pulsating Scottish Cup final clash at Hampden Park last season, Celtic and Rangers face off once again in the Old Firm derby of the Scottish Premiership campaign this Sunday.
Both sides enter the game unbeaten in the league, though it is Celtic that hold the advantage over their neighbours, with the Hoops enjoying a 100 per cent record in the Scottish top flight so far. A win for Rangers would see them leapfrog their fierce rivals though with the Gers just two points behind.
Fears about the fitness of Cameron Carter-Vickers have been allayed ahead of kick-off, with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers confirming the player is “fine”, while £11million record signing Arne Engels could make his Hoops debut. Rodgers’ has plenty selection dilemmas though, with both Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah battling to start the game, while Paul Bernardo will be aiming to keep his place in Hoops engine room.
As for Rangers, Ridvan Yilmaz is set to miss out with a thigh injury, though Robin Propper could be available again after missing last weekend’s 6-0 win over Ross County. Could Rabbi Matondo come back into the starting XI after last week’s outstanding performance - or will Clement opt for Ross McCausland on the right-wing?
The Scotsman predicts Celtic and Rangers’ starting XI for this weekend’s game, with both bosses facing several selection dilemmas.
17. RW: Nicolas Kuhn - Celtic
The German has been in scintillating form for the Hoops in the opening weeks of the campaign. Expected to be fit after a slight knock, so will almost certainly start. | SNS Group
18. RW: Vaclav Cerny - Rangers
He has been building his match fitness week-on-week, and has shown flashes of what Rangers can expect from his once he is fully up to speed. Could he announce his arrival in true fashion with a big performance against Celtic? | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
19. LW: Daizen Maeda - Celtic
He seems to cause James Tavernier problems whenever he plays against him, so it makes sense to start him on Sunday afternoon. | SNS Group
20. LW: Rabbi Matondo - Rangers
Looked set to leave the club last week, with Leeds United, Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers are eyeing deals for the player. However, his man-of-the-match display in the 6-0 win over Ross County appears to have handed him a Rangers lifeline - can he become a hero at Celtic Park? | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group