RANGERS manager Walter Smith does not believe the loss of Scott Brown will have too detrimental an effect on Celtic this weekend.
The midfielder – named PFA Scotland player of the year last Sunday – is suspended for the final Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox tomorrow.
Smith can understand why the absence of Brown might be regarded as a major blow but claims the Scottish
champions have demonstrated their ability to cope without key players in the past.
He said: "Celtic have won the championship for the last three years and they've not had all their players available to them all that time. They have managed to cover for the loss of players through suspension, injury or whatever and still gone on to win a championship.
"They have shown they have that capability of covering for the loss of players. Scott Brown has played exceptionally well for them this year, he has been a regular in their team and they may miss him. But they have still shown they can cover."
Like every other clash between the Glasgow giants, this encounter has not escaped the hype which surrounds the famous fixture. Smith said: "Historically, that has been the case in the Old Firm games and you get used to it. I don't think it affects anyone who has handled the situation for a number of games. When the two teams are going for the championship in the manner we are this season it becomes a big game and it's right that it is a big match.
"So, from our own point of view, we would like to take advantage of our home game in the manner that Celtic did in the two games at the end of last season."
Meanwhile Paul Hartley believes Gordon Strachan is the complete manager – even though the Celtic boss regularly drops him from the side. The former Hearts midfielder is far from being a bit-part player at Parkhead but has not always found himself in the Hoops' starting XI this season.
However, as is normally the case when the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions face their stiffest of tests, Strachan will call on the wily 32-year-old for tomorrow's showdown.
Hartley insists it is that ability to utilise and prepare his squad for games such as these that elevates Strachan above most of his peers. He said: "He's not just a manager, he's a coach, too. He doesn't just sit in his office, he's out there (on the training ground) every single day and takes all the sessions.
"He's a very good man-manager and a very good motivator. I think he's got it all."
