SportTimes ponders the big issues in Ibrox derby

THE Old Firm collide at Ibrox tomorrow in a high-noon shootout that will shape the destination of this season's championship.

Despite Celtic holding the whip hand on their fierce city rivals for most of the campaign, Gordon Strachan's side have never quite been able to put Rangers away in their quest for four-in-a-row.

Now just one point separates the Glasgow giants, in Celtic's favour, ahead of an Ibrox clash that has once again been billed as Judgement Day.

The implications of this championship are massive; the winners go straight into the Champions League, the losers face a perilous journey to try and navigate Uefa's revamped qualification rounds.

For Rangers, the loss of another title would leave them staring at major financial worries on top of the concerns they currently have, and their support would have to come to terms with just two championships in nine years.

As for Celtic, losing out on four-in-a-row would leave their hierarchy open to fierce criticism from fans that they should have spent more money when Rangers were on their knees financially.

Here, SportTimes takes a looks as the issues that will determine the outcome of one of the most crucial Old Firm derbies for years, and who could make the difference.

IS THIS REALLY A TITLE DECIDER?

If Celtic leave Ibrox with a win then, for me, it's game, set and match, writes Darrell King.

They would be four points clear with three games to go and need just six points from those last trio of matches to win the league, and that's assuming Rangers win all their remaining games.

Crucially, Strachan's men would have two from three at home and Celtic have been very consistent on their own patch. So, while many say it's not a decider, and point to 2005 when the Hoops left Ibrox five points clear with four matches left and still lost the title, I believe it is - if Celtic win.

Should Rangers land the points, and their need is greater, then the Ibrox men would take a huge psychological lift for the run-in. They would still have tough matches to negotiate, away from home at Easter Road and Tannadice, but they would have matter within their own grasp for the first time and that could prove significant.

WHO CAN BE A MATCH-WINNER?

There are plenty on both sides, of that there is no question. But given the limited chances in the last two league meetings between the teams it may come down to the strikers.

Kris Boyd has to remove the Old Firm monkey from his back. Okay, he has scored once against Celtic to break his duck against them, but the game at Ibrox didn't matter a jot in terms of the title as Celtic were out in front.

He missed a good chance against Artur Boruc back in December when Celtic won 1-0, and has to prove he can take those kind of opportunities in season-defining games.

Scott McDonald has had no such problems. He has put Rangers to the sword already in crucial title encounters, and is bang on form going into this one.

Boyd may be described as the perfect man for the rabbit shoots in the SPL, but Skippy has become a big game hunter and much will lie with him tomorrow as Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, like Boyd, has just one Old Firm goal to his name.

Often, these derbies can throw up an unusual hero - Darren O'Dea in the Co-Op Cup Final for instance when he grabbed the opening goal - but this could come down to who has their eye in between Boyd and McDonald.

WHO MUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE?

Reputations can be forged, and broken, in Old Firm games. Players can instantly become folk heroes, or forever be consigned to the ranks of also-rans.

It is a fixture that shows no mercy, and it needs players to have the right mentality to get through it.

In terms of the men who can make a difference there are a few - and there are also a number who have to produce in this fixture to make amends.

Pedro Mendes scored a wonderful goal to mark his Old Firm debut last August. But what has he done in the fixture since? Not a lot.

There is no question that the Portuguese player has it in his locker to run the show and really impose himself, but he more than most needs to grasp the mettle in this one.

Not far behind has to be Steven Davis. Again, a talented footballer, he has been posted missing in recent Old Firm contests and has to shine if Rangers are to set the tempo on his own patch.

Mo Edu will make a debut and needs to handle the heat and, if that trio can all get into their groove, Rangers will feel confident of winning the midfield battle.

Any Hoops line-up always appears to have more potential match-winners. But will their men shine in the Ibrox cauldron? Aiden McGeady is the most entertaining player in the SPL and was excellent in the League Cup Final, but needs to do more at Ibrox. That can also be applied to Shunsuke Nakamura, a player who has unquestionable talent, but often disappears in the heat of this kind of battle.

Look for Marc Crosas as well. If he starts, then he needs to remember this is an Old Firm derby and there is no time to take a touch, look up and wait to spray a pass.

HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS ON THE OFFICIALS?

Scotland's top referee Craig Thomson has handled massive games with a great deal at stake both at home and abroad in his impressive career so far, writes Matthew Lindsay.

But never before will the Paisley whistler have taken charge of a game with such huge consequences for the participating clubs as the Old Firm match tomorrow.

All eyes will be on the man-in-the-middle, too, after the high-profile refereeing blunders in both the Champions League semi-finals in London this week.

Roberto Rosetti, who is in the elite band of European referees, was heavily criticised for sending off Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher as Manchester United hammered Arsenal 3-1 to book their spot in Rome.

Fletcher, who television replays showed made a decent challenge on Cesc Fabregas, will now miss the showdown with Barcelona in Italy at the end of the month.

Then on Wednesday night, Chelsea players had to be physically restrained from approaching Tom Henning Ovrebo after he failed to award them a penalty at the end of their 1-1 draw with Barca at Stamford Bridge.

Those incidents show that, even at the very highest level, the match official's ruling can have enormous repercussions.

Thomson's linesman, too, will be under more scrutiny than at any stage in his career. Tom Murphy and Rangers have got previous.

It was Murphy who awarded Celtic a dubious goal in the final Old Firm game of last season as they romped to a 3-2 triumph which helped them retain the title.

Gers boss Walter Smith publicly criticised the official for another of his decisions in his side's 0-0 draw with Motherwell at Fir Park earlier this season.

No doubt about it, Thomson and Murphy will earn their match fees tomorrow.

HOW WILL WALTER SMITH SET UP RANGERS?

The Rangers boss has been fairly predictable in his line-ups for Old Firm games since returning to the club, writes Thomas Jordan.

However, he is known to throw the odd wild card into the mix, such as when he brought Daniel Cousin in from the cold to run the Celtic defence ragged in Gers' 4-2 win at Parkhead in August.

In many respects, the starting line-up this week picks itself due to lack of choice, with a number of first-team regulars missing.

What will be interesting is the formation Smith opts for. In the past, he has preferred to go with a 4-5-1 against Celtic but with his side needing to win, it's likely to be 4-4-2 at Ibrox.

Neil Alexander will keep his place between the sticks, even though many regard Allan McGregor as the better of the two.

The defence is also straightforward to predict. Madjid Bougherra returns from suspension and will partner Davie Weir at the heart of the back line. Sasa Papac is a doubt, which means Steven Smith is likely to drop back.

Smith's other option is to play Steven Whittaker at left-back - but that would leave veteran Christian Dailly up against Aiden McGeady at right-back.

As usual, Steven Davis should play on the right of midfield and there will be a lot of responsibility on his shoulders to track back. In the middle, Pedro Mendes and Maurice Edu are likely to continue.

Who plays on the left is probably the most difficult to predict. Lee McCulloch's power could be an asset Smith wishes to utilise or Kyle Lafferty's pace could earn him the nod.

In attack, Kris Boyd will start only his fourth Old Firm game. Despite netting four in as many games, Andrius Velicka could drop back to the bench to make way for the pace of fit-again Kenny Miller.

WILL STRACHAN MAKE SURPRISE SELECTION?

Gordon Strachan has had his game plan for this weekend in his head for several weeks. Now it's in the bucket, thanks to injury and suspension, writes Ronnie Cully.

Celtic emerged from Ibrox on their previous visit in December with all three points to cancel out the 4-2 defeat they suffered at home in the first Old Firm game of the season.

But Strachan knows that 1-0 win could have gone either way, with Kris Boyd having an excellent chance saved by Artur Boruc.

Likewise, the stalemate endured by the fans when the teams met at Parkhead in February threw up very little in terms of scoring chances.

A fresh approach to get the upper hand was required, and the radical plan Strachan devised was implemented in the Co-op Cup Final.

Many thought they had shot themselves in the foot when they lined-up with Glenn Loovens drafted in alongside Stephen McManus and Darren O'Dea at left-back, Gary Caldwell pushed into central midfield beside Scott Brown and Paul Hartley, and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras left on the bench as Aiden McGeady floated along the front line as a partner for Scott McDonald.

Although Celtic needed extra-time to win, they enjoyed the bulk of the play throughout and always looked the side most likely to score.

Ostensibly, it would have been a case of same again tomorrow, with just a tweak as Vennegoor's height was added to help defend set-pieces.

But now, with McManus out and O'Dea struggling, Caldwell has to abandon his enforcer role in midfield and revert to centre-back.

With Brown suspended, it will leave the midfield lightweight. But it's doubtful Barry Robson will be rushed back after just a couple of days full training.

So, a huge responsibility will rest on the experienced shoulders of Hartley to mentor Marc Crosas and provide the platform for the more creative players to do their stuff.