The countdown is now well and truly on to Sunday’s massive Old Firm clash between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox.
With the last international window during the domestic season now passed, all eyes will focus on derby day in Glasgow which is shaping up to be a cracker.
From the start of Thursday, the newspapers, phone-ins and social media will be saturated with the build-up to the game and the latest on the likely starting line-ups, injury doubts and much of the usual noise around the big game but this time feels a wee bit different as it matters so much more.
Whilst it is not quite a league decider, it is very close to a must win fixture for Rangers as a six point gap going in to the split would appear to be a hurdle too high based on the story so far in 21/22.
All the players will have returned from duty with their national teams to be assessed as they fit back into the squad with plans to be put into practice on the training field. One or two spots will possibly be still up for grabs with Giovanni van Bronckhorst closing in on his strategy to secure all three points on Sunday – a likely situation will be unfolding at Lennoxtown with Ange Postecoglou.
This game will start a manic month at Ibrox with three trophies still on the line. The priority is undoubtedly the Premiership but at the quarter-final stage in the Europa League, anything can now happen.
First of all, Europe has to wait. The first taste of April action comes on Sunday and will be played out against a backdrop of passion, heart and voice as the Rangers supporters roar their favourites toward the pursuit of victory to give Celtic something to think about, with some noises from Parkhead and their support appearing to be getting ahead of themselves slightly.
There is so much at stake in this game, with different challenges for both sides in what is likely to be the first of three Old Firm meetings over the next four weeks – Glasgow, brace yourself.