Taking advantage of opposition weakness is not just a tactic, it is a necessity.
Running through Celtic’s season like a thread has been their inability to defend effectively and especially from set-pieces.
This is something that Rangers have capitalised on in the three meetings so far this season and that dead ball domination must be continued at Ibrox this afternoon.
Think Connor Goldson in the October 0-2 win.
Rangers corner turned goal in the New Year win.
Alfredo Morelos taking full advantage to break his duck last time out.
And that it just the chances that led to goals!
Statement of intent
There has been quite a bit said on both sides, ahead of this game.
From the Celtic camp, something of a brave face has been put on to mask the massive deficiencies on display from their team as well as the huge rebuilding job just getting underway at Parkhead.
Comfort has been taken from their relative strength in the last couple of Old Firm games – with only one point and one goal to show for it.
That is despite Rangers being under-par in both of those games for different reasons.
The Champions are very unlikely to be off-colour for the third successive derby game, especially when the competitive edge has returned with the incentive of further silverware on the line.
It matters more this time.
A statement of intent from Steven Gerrard’s team will be the perfect response from Ibrox and will set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
There is a sense of anticipation in the air ahead of this game, now is the time for the Premiership winners to deliver, once again.