Often at this time of year, a post-split Old Firm goes along way to determining who will win the Scottish Premiership title. This year though, the pair could end the hopes of not only one another but both at the same time. With three games to go, it is Hearts who still lead the way on 76 points, while Celtic are on 73 and Rangers have 69.
Danny Röhl's team are all but mathematically out of the running, following their defeat at Tynecastle on Bank Holiday Monday. Meanwhile, the Celts must beat Rangers and then Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday to make sure it goes to the last day, when they will host the Jambos.
With everything on the line, it is of paramount importance that Martin O'Neill gets his team selection right. Kasper Schmeichel, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Julián Araujo, Callum Osmand and Jota are long-term absentees, while Scottish Cup shootout hero Tomáš Čvančara is also out.
Nevertheless, O'Neill still has some key decisions to make, so here are the three that are most-likely to define this derby, and the title race overall.
Alistair Johnston's return at right-back
One of the many themes of this turbulent season has been long-term injuries. Since arriving in January 2023, Alistair Johnston has been one of Celtic's best performing and most-reliable players, so the fact that he's only seen 411 minutes of action is a serious blow.
The Canadian international suffered a serious hamstring injury against Kairat in August, rushed back by Brendan Rodgers to face Sturm Graz in October, only to exacerbate the issue further. Johnston made his long-awaited return off the bench against Falkirk a fortnight ago, before starting a Premiership fixture for the first time in 266 days at Easter Road last Sunday.
Of course, especially with a World Cup on home soil to come, Johnston's minutes need to be carefully managed. Nevertheless, he represents a major upgrade on deputies Anthony Ralston and Colby Donovan, even if he does not have 90 intense minutes in his legs, so his return is a huge boost.
An unchanged midfield featuring Arne Engels & Benjamin Nygren
While Celtic have been short of quality in various positions all throughout the campaign, central midfield is the one major exception. Callum McGregor's name is written in permanent marker, but the two spots alongside are up for grabs. Well, Benjamin Nygren will be in the team, it is just a question as to where.
The Swede picked up pretty much every award going at Celtic's end of season ceremony last Sunday and rightly so, given that he has scored 20 goals across all competitions. The €1.7 million paid to Nordsjælland to secure his signature looks like a serious bargain.
While he can play out-wide, Nygren is at his most dangerous centrally, so should remain there. Completing the trio is a major question mark though. Arne Engels did just that in Edinburgh last time out, starting back-to-back Premiership games, having missed seven on the spin not so long ago.
O'Neill clearly likes the Belgian international, so is set to keep him in the lineup. This would see Reo Hatate, who scored a fourth career goal against Rangers in March, as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left in reserve. Would this be the right call? Well, that is up for debate and only time will tell.
Kelechi Iheanacho or Daizen Maeda leading the line
Last, but by no means least, O'Neill must decide who to start as his centre-forward. Kelechi Ịheanachọ was the match-winner a week ago, the third time he has scored a late winner in the Premiership away game this season, doing so at Rugby Park, Dens and now Easter Road.
In fact, having now netted seven times across all competition, doing so in only 784 minutes on the park, the Nigerian boasts one of the very best goals-per-minute ratio in all of Europe. So, is Ịheanachọ best served starting, or being saved as a super sub?
Well, after a long goal draught, Daizen Maeda has scored four in three, opening the scoring against St Mirren at Hampden inside 60 seconds, before a brace against Falkirk and one at Hibs. The Japanese international has previously netted on five occasions in Old Firms and, deployed centrally, he would cause the less than rock-solid pairing of Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga plenty of problems.
Thus, even though the alternative winger options are far from top class, the sensible choice appears to be Maeda through the middle from the start and Ịheanachọ if required later on. Whatever XI O'Neill puts out there at high noon on Sunday, they simply must win.
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