Rangers and Celtic are facing an uncomfortable truth at Ibrox

It is why the second Old Firm derby in the space of a week at Ibrox will feel exceptionally important to both sides as they attempt to salvage what has been a challenging season.

Normally one of them would be inked in for the Premiership title. However, the rapid emergence of Hearts as serious contenders has left second-placed Celtic five points behind the league leaders and Rangers a further point adrift in third. Nine rounds of fixtures remain and while there is time to redress the balance, the Jam Tarts clearly hold the whip hand.

The other domestic major trophy currently resides in the west - but not in Glasgow. Celtic had the chance to land it but during the dreadful and brief Wilfried Nancy tenure, St Mirren defeated them 3-1 in the final at Hampden back in December.

For Celtic, the thought of a trophyless campaign is so rare for a generation of their supporters. Since the turn of the century, there have only been two blank seasons: 2009/10 and 2020/21. Rangers have more recent experience of an empty cupboard but the pressure is on them too to deliver.

One Scottish Cup success in 15 years is not good enough for a club of Rangers’ stature. Their last triumph was a 2-0 win over Hearts after extra time in 2022 under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. At least they are in the quarter-finals this time around, given the embarrassment of losing to Queen’s Park in the last 16 a year ago.

Rangers set up this date with Celtic by thrashing the Spiders 8-0 to underline how much they have improved a year on from that dark day at Ibrox. In particular, head coach Danny Rohl has elevated the team significantly from the end of Philippe Clement’s reign and the terrible start made to this campaign by his successor Russell Martin.

Rangers still have foibles and those were demonstrated last weekend when they drew 2-2 at home to Celtic in the league. The hosts made a blistering start and were well worth their two-goal lead before the half-hour mark. They played with pace, power and purpose. Celtic could not live with them. It is why the drop-off in the second half was so alarming. The roles were reversed and in the end, Rohl and Co were probably happy the visitors didn’t leave with all three points.

You can’t call this the ‘final before the final’

There will be a winner this time around. This game has to be played to a conclusion. We might need penalty kicks. Rangers keeper Jack Butland may secretly be hoping for them, given he saved Reo Hatate’s spot-kick last week.

With Hearts, Hibs and Motherwell out of the competition already, the only other top-six side left is Falkirk. It is why whoever progresses will be heavy favourites for the Scottish Cup. That adds an element of pressure on both. Given the unpredictable nature of this season, it would be foolish to proclaim this tie the “final before the final” - yet this is a major opportunity.

Rangers have suffered at Hampden recently when facing Celtic at the national stadium so facing them at home before the semis could be key. They have not lost to a Scottish side in Govan under Rohl and have had the week off, while O’Neill’s men were scratching out a narrow 2-1 win up in Aberdeen on Wednesday night.

If you take O’Neill at his word, he doesn’t sound entirely convinced he can guide his team to a trophy this term. “We’re miles away from winning anything,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “The overall picture should be a wake-up call for the club.

“In recent years the fans have maybe been spoiled. There have been no real challenges in many aspects. They’ve been able to coast home in the last six or seven games of the season, which is great. The challenge has not been strong. Now it is. Hearts have arrived maybe a few years before they thought they would. Rangers have come strongly and spent money getting good players in.

“It’s been a challenge all season, certainly in my couple of spells where you are winning some matches and still trying to peg teams back. But we’re in with a chance. You can’t take things for granted, though. You have to fight every single season for something. While we’ve had a glorious period, the challenge this season might have surprised us.”

Celtic might get a boost from a larger than normal away support. Scottish Cup rules decree that the away team is entitled to 20 per cent of the stadium. In the end the two clubs settled on 7,500 for the visiting fans, who will be housed in the Broomloan Stand. Nostalgists will enjoy.

“Of course it will have an impact,” Rangers head coach Rohl admitted, before smiling. “If we play 50 minutes like we did [lasy week] the 7,500 will also be quiet. I think this is the part in the game where you feel it. We influence, we can influence, we can make the impact on our performance on the pitch.”

Rohl doesn’t think the outcome on Sunday will affect the Premiership title race. “At first the winner goes in the semi-final and you are close to going in the final,” the German added. “I think this is the most important thing. But it's another competition. I understand your question that you say if you win then maybe it influences this. But no, this game influences just that you go in the semi-final or not.

“And after this game, we are fully focused until the international break on the league. We have to do our homework. I think it's two games with St Mirren and Aberdeen. Then we will see where we are and it will be exciting.”

Rohl’s right. Rarely a dull moment for Celtic and Rangers. The trick will be to avoid a dull one this weekend.