Rangers take on Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow, looking to build on last weekend's dominant 3-0 win in the fixture.
Derek McInnes' side travel East having had the benefit of a week to prepare for the fixture, while Celtic approach the game after suffering a defeat against Ferencvaros in the Europa League on Thursday.
Will McInnes stick with the 11 that worked at Ibrox or alter his approach away from home?
The Rangers Review team discuss the team they think will be picked below.
Chris Jack
Picking a side to head to Parkhead is a tricky business at this stage. One, because we don’t know the full extent of the ankle injury that Ryan Naderi sustained last time out. And two, because Derek McInnes didn’t divulge the name of the second player who is struggling ahead of the final training session on Saturday.
If everyone is fit and available, there is a sound case to be made for McInnes going with the same 11 that started at Ibrox. When it worked so well, why change it?
As the manager outlined on Friday afternoon, that relates to the approach from his players as much as the blueprint that he sets out. It is one thing for McInnes to get his plans spot on, but it means nothing if those he sends out don’t show the required quality and character on the park.
If McInnes does make a switch, it could involve Kim Minsu moving to the No.10 position. In that scenario, Badredine Bouanani is the most likely candidate to go wide right. The No.9 berth? Well, that all depends on the state of Naderi’s ankle.
Joshua Barrie
Naderi's potential absence throws a spanner in last week's well-executed plan.
Even still, in a game that could be more transitional, I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to have Minsu operating from the No.10 berth with two wingers offering running power on either side.
Regardless of Naderi's fitness, I'd be starting Kevin Kelsy up top. The Venezuelan not only scored his first goal for the club on Sunday, he also takes his team up the park in a way Naderi doesn't.
From the nine guaranteed starters, McInnes will be asking for more of the same. The same blend of finesse and discipline that saw Neil and Raskin hold down the midfield, the same ability to win one-v-one duels all over the defence. And perhaps another busy day carrying out multiple jobs for James Penrice.
Blair Malloy
With the news coming this week that Naderi's ankle is, as McInnes put it, 'a mess', it would seem unlikely that he would start even if he was cleared to play at Celtic Park.
With this in mind, I think Rangers will veer away from the two-striker model that worked to great effect last weekend. I would expect Kelsy to lead the line with Djeidi Gassama and Minsu progressing the ball towards the top end of the park. On the right there is a debate to be had about whether Bouanani should get the nod and I understand the clamour for him; however, I do wonder if Findlay Curtis' guaranteed work rate off the ball will see him take the spot.
Read more:
- This Rohl to McInnes symmetry shows Rangers are learning from a long-standing issue
- The bold Rangers plan that explains their dominant Old Firm performance
I expect Rangers to be more compact at the back with a more traditional four, as opposed to Penrice's hybrid midfield role last week but have no doubt that McInnes will be setting a team out to win the game and capitalise on Celtic during what appears to be a vulnerable moment.
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