Golden-boy Kris Boyd to get nod but Madjid Bougherra void worries Rangers

SOON to begin working on a weekly contractual basis with Rangers, Walter Smith is conscious that he might be in sight of his last-ever involvement in an Old Firm match.

The thrill, he says, is the same now as it was when he first started out at Ibrox, as an assistant to Graeme Souness. His side are playing in such a way as to suggest they want him to go out on a high if this is indeed to be his last season in charge. Rangers have claimed 11 goals already this week and will arrive at Parkhead tomorrow in good spirit. Celtic's inactivity in midweek means the Ibrox side have the chance to go a remarkable ten points clear of their nearest challengers with a win, although Smith has not been able to enjoy a gentle introduction to 2010.

Madjid Bougherra's departure to join Algeria for the Africa Cup of Nations has meant the spotlight has fallen once again on the centre-half berth alongside David Weir. Smith must choose between the experience of Lee McCulloch, or the youth of Danny Wilson. The latter might seem the best option, with the 19-year-old having already tasted action in the Champions League this season. But Smith might also be mindful of Andrew Little's difficulties in the first Old Firm derby earlier this season. The young Northern Irishman damaged a hamstring early on, but looked overwhelmed by the occasion. He was replaced long before half-time.

"You have to overcome an element of nerves," conceded Smith. "Andrew Little didn't get started the last time but Danny Wilson came in and played a European game (against Stuttgart] for instance.

"What you look at with younger players is how they can handle the big occasion and it is a big test for any player to go and play in an Old Firm game. There is a tremendous atmosphere at Celtic Park. But it is part and parcel of playing for Rangers. He (Wilson] has been fast to handle things so far and hopefully that will continue."

Although Bougherra, who scored a stunning goal in the 7-1 destruction of Dundee United in midweek, has returned to favour at Ibrox, Smith is not overly vexed by the defender's absence. First indications had suggested that Bougherra would have been required to meet up with his international team-mates as early as last weekend, so his contribution against Hibs last weekend and, more recently, United must be considered a bonus.

"To be fair to them (Algeria], they have let him stay for an extra two games," said Smith. "That is more than we thought we would get him for initially. Wilson has played well when he has come in so that would be an obvious one, but we have (Kirk] Broadfoot back as well. And we have McCulloch who can go in there if required. But Wilson has done more than enough to suggest he could come in and play if needed, as obviously he is with Bougherra being away.

"The injury to Bougherra (earlier in the season] gave Danny an opportunity to play and he handled it very well so there is no reason why he shouldn't think he can handle this."

While the change in defence might require some deliberations, there is no need to think too long about whether to play Kris Boyd or not. The striker has often been a victim of Smith's formation against Celtic, but following his five goals on Wednesday night can consider himself a certain starter at Parkhead.

Even should Smith decide to play just one forward, the improvement in Boyd's general game should see him equipped for the task. Smith does not expect the recent trend for multi-goal victories to be extended tomorrow, even though Celtic's most obvious weakness this season has proved to be in the heart of their defence.

"Rangers have been scoring more goals than the early part of the season, but people also talk about Celtic having a weakness here and there," he said. "I don't think they have lost a home (league] game for a while, have they? Going there is always extremely difficult at any stage. I never think about it as anything else.

"People make assessments of teams beforehand and the number of times they are proved to be wrong with those assessments is incredible. The Old Firm game brings out something different in players all the time. While I hope we can continue to score, I always know that Celtic Park is as difficult a place as we can go. For me, Celtic Park is one of the hardest grounds to go to, and that includes the European venues we go to as well. We will get the full test."

Admitting he would find it extremely difficult to leave Boyd warming the bench this time round, Smith added: "He has missed quite a few Celtic games in the time that I've been back but he also played in a few of them as well.

"Right at the present moment, the team is doing extremely well and I don't envisage a situation where you would go along there and play without him."

The Rangers manager also insisted that Boyd's disappointing record in matches against Celtic will not weigh heavily on the striker when he runs out on to the Celtic Park turf tomorrow.

"I don't think it puts any extra pressure on him," explained Smith. "He accepts the pressure he has of being our leading goalscorer for a number of years."

Despite the number of times he has been involved in Old Firm clashes, an extra tingle of excitement still shivers through Smith's body in the run-up to a game containing such inevitably high stakes. "There are a few other games when the more experienced you get, the less tension there maybe is," he admitted. "But not the Old Firm game. It is still exactly the same."