Billy Dodds: I can't see past Celtic

But where it is undoubtedly a different animal now is in terms of expectations. You can't say this is an evenly matched Old Firm match like the ones I used to play in. Celtic are hot favourites and a lot of people are saying if Rangers don't get their finger out it could be five or six. I think it will be closer than that but we have to be realistic, Celtic should win the match.

It certainly has had the same Old Firm build-up, with players past and present having their say. Chris Sutton said this week that Celtic could win the match blindfolded but I can't be bothered with ex players who come out and are so determined to show they are a Celtic man or a Rangers man. If you are a pundit you have to call it the way you see it, and maybe he does believe it. But I am sorry Chris, saying Celtic can win with blindfolds on is not the way I see it.

As for John Guidetti saying he fancied himself for a hat-trick, I am not going to use the word disrespectful, but stuff like that can only help Rangers. Whether it is enough to make them win, I am not so sure, in fact I seriously doubt it. But it is the old saying - it does your team talk for you. It goes right up on the dressing room wall. The newspapers must have loved it but I think it was a bit naive from both of them.

Of course Celtic are major favourites. They would have to play really poorly to lose the game. I totally understand their fans and players thinking it is a chance to put a mark down in history. If Rangers aren't at it and Celtic get a couple of quick goals then they could relax and then they really will smell blood. Then it could be six or seven. But I also believe that Rangers have got a chance if they sit deep against them, get to half time or even into the last quarter.

I have spoken before about my Old Firm memories - they were a real mixed bag. My favourite one has to be scoring in the 1-1 draw at Celtic Park in the 99-00 season. It might not be a match which goes down in history but it was a great moment in my career and I will certainly always remember it. It was a huge moment in the season, going into the winter break. We were seven points in front and if they had won it would have been game on. Mark Viduka had them one-up, and they were giving us a doing, but I scored and we just hung in there.

I made a good run in behind, hit it first time and it deflected off the studs of Alan Stubbs and went in. I couldn't even hear the 7,000 Rangers fans, because it was way up the Celtic end. I just remember running back to the halfway line, with Barry Ferguson and another couple of the boys grabbing me.

The 6-2 defeat at the same venue a season later was the other side of the coin, just a really bad day at the office. It was a whirlwind start, and we were three down in about 14 minutes or whatever it was. If we didn't get a grip, we thought it could get ridiculous, seven or eight nil or something. But we had moments in the game. I made it 4-2 from a penalty and I had a great chance to make it 4-3, and I also had a great chance at 3-1. It sounds crazy but it was never comfortable for Celtic until that fifth goal went in.

For me, the Celtic side today picks itself, the only question mark being who Deila goes for up front, but I think Guidetti might get the nod over Leigh Griffiths. Kenny McDowall could even go 5-4-1 but I think that would leave them short in midfield. So I think it will be 4-5-1, and it wouldn't surprise me if Kenny Miller turned up on a side.

There is never a nice way for your team to be beaten in an Old Firm match but so long as there is a respectable scoreline and a decent performance I think the Rangers fans would accept that. There are bigger battles to be had and the bigger battle is in the boardroom. Of course they still want to win the game, but the be all and end all is getting the club sorted. Although I don't think it will be a case of Guidetti and blindfolds my prediction is for Celtic to win the game, by a couple of goals.