End of season powderkeg with Scottish title at stake

Rangers and Celtic clash for the final time this season with both sides’ title hopes in the balance in a powderkeg fixture.

Old Firm encounters are usually seen as determining the destination of the title, but with just one point separating the pair at the top of the Scottish Premier League this Saturday’s clash at Ibrox takes on added importance.

The Hoops, with a one-point advantage going into the game, know a draw could be enough to see them over the finishing line in the race for their fourth league championship in a row.

With just four games left a repeat of the 1-0 win the last time Celtic visited the home of their arch-rivals would all but clinch the title.

However, the Hoops have not fared well on their travels in 2009 with just two wins on the road since their Ibrox victory in December.

Rangers, on the other hand, are on their best run of the season with the defeat of third-placed Hearts last Sunday their sixth win in a row.

One Gers player on top of his game is Kris Boyd. The striker has now hit 30 goals for the season to take his total to 101 for the club.

Only one of these strikes has been against Celtic and he has previously been overlooked for Old Firm games by manager Walter Smith. But assistant manager Ally McCoist has backed Boyd to break his hoodoo and fire Rangers to victory on Saturday.

“Kris is a man with a lot of confidence at the moment and his total against Celtic is just a statistic. We all know Boydy can score against anybody,” McCoist said. “He has scored at international level and in European competitions as well as in domestic games so there is no doubting what he can do.

“I really hope this is a game that is set up for him. When you look at the strikers and some of the things that are written in the stars for them, I hope this is one of them.”

Bosnian defender Sasa Papac could be set to return to the starting lineup but one player who won’t feature is former captain Barry Ferguson.

The midfielder made a surprise return to first team training this week after it was thought an ankle injury had finished his season but Smith says he won’t risk him in the derby.

Kirk Broadfoot has been ruled out with a foot injury but Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra returns after his one-match suspension.

Andrius Velicka, who has scored in the past four matches, might not be able to hold on to his place with fit again Kenny Miller and Kyle Lafferty pushing for a start.

Celtic will also be missing a couple of first team regulars. Captain Stephen McManus was crocked just 50 minutes into his comeback from injury last weekend and will miss the rest of the season.

Player of the year Scott Brown will sit it out as well as he completes a two-match ban, with Paul Hartley expected to keep his place in the side.

Shaun Maloney is fit again after injuries have kept him out for most of the year but defender Darren O’Dea is a doubt.

In Saturday’s other matches there is a relegation battle as bottom club Falkirk take on Kilmarnock while St Mirren need to pick up points at home to Motherwell. On Sunday Inverness Caledonian Thistle host Hamilton.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Rangers v Celtic (1130)

Kilmarnock v Falkirk

St Mirren v Motherwell

Sunday

Inverness CT v Hamilton (1300)