Celtic star Mika Baur has warned his teammates they must find the energy to be able to properly compete in the Old Firm on Sunday.
The pressure is on for the Bhoys, who have now lost back-to-back major games, losing to Rangers without a fight last weekend, and they have since lost 3-1 to Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
Suddenly, big questions are being asked of Martin O'Neill, who could be in a dangerous position if his Celtic side fail to turn up in an Old Firm again here, especially with a newly-extended international break on the other side of this game.
With exclusive use of Parkhead this weekend, with no away fans allowed, Celtic fans are not going to put up with another sub-standard derby effort, and if there is one, the Bhoys players will be in for a nasty reception at full-time.
Rangers have had the advantage of having extra time to prepare for this game, to study Celtic even further on Thursday night, and Derek McInnes' men also have the benefit of knowing the pressure is on their rivals to turn up after last weekend.
But the Celtic players know they must step up themselves, and speaking after Thursday night's defeat, midfielder Baur warned his teammates they must do better.
"I don’t think it’s up to me to tell you what each player should do better," Baur said. "But as a team, we need to stick together, get the energy level really high on Sunday. That’s the most important thing.
"To win the fights and the duels. Just fight for it on Sunday. We will not win it through beautiful football and nice plays. Maybe we will score through it, but we will win the game on Sunday with mentality and energy. That’s what everybody should bring into the match on Sunday."
Asked about how last weekend's derby impacts this one, and indeed whether revenge is on their minds, Baur added: "I don’t know if it’s about revenge. That was not us last Sunday, so it’s more about getting back to ourselves, getting back to the winning streak and just take the win and get three points and leave them behind us."
Baur had one of his worst games in a Celtic shirt against Rangers last weekend, and he will want to put things right here. Although, O'Neill may look to add further physicality to his midfield and start Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain over him this weekend.
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