The noise from Pedro Caixinha will have raised little more than a wry smile from Brendan Rodgers, having operated in the EPL the third rate mind games of the fifth best coach in Qatar won’t have any impact on his preparations.
Anderlecht is on the horizon but three points from Ibrox is the best possible preparation for a Champions League tie and that’s all that the Irishman will be thinking of this week.
The return from injury of Dedryck Boyata and Moussa Dembele is very welcome but the striker is still a little short of match fitness and will have to start the match on the bench.
Almost certainly joining him will be Patrick Roberts although the former Fulham duo are certain to be involved in the game at some stage.
Roberts hasn’t quite caught fire yet, he is heading in the right direction, but the form of James Forrest makes him impossible to drop.
The Ayrshire bhoy is rapidly becoming a veteran and has the complete trust of his manager, after Scott Brown no one has more experience of derby combat.
Roberts could have been considered for the support striker role but failed to make a serious impact at Dundee with Tom Rogic and his goal threat likely to be handed that role.
The trip to Ibrox will require a 14 man squad, three subs will play their part with only some highly unlikely circumstances capable of denying the hoops a third successive win at the home of the tribute act.