Celtic's  manager Martin O'Neill has called for calm in today's Old Firm game at Ibrox, despite himself facing a two-match touchline ban for his behaviour during last month's UEFA Cup tie against Celta Vigo."Discipline is very important and one thing I want to do is make sure everybody is on the field of play by the end of the game," he said.

"That is important, especially with the inflammatory atmosphere of an Old Firm game."

There have been 32 yellow and two red cards in the past six meetings between Celtic and Rangers.

The Celtic manager has not defeated Rangers in five attempts since Alex McLeish took over at Ibrox a year ago. But O'Neill maintains keeping the Premier League trophy at Parkhead is his top priority.

"We have done reasonably well in the last couple of seasons against Rangers but the league is more important than any individual game."

Celtic came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw in the last Old Firm meeting in October and O'Neill admits most would settle for the same again. "If the game is a similar encounter to the last one, then most people would go home satisfied."

There were contrasting injury bulletins for the two teams yesterday. Celtic, one point ahead of their rivals, have been buoyed by the news Henrik Larsson has recovered sufficiently from the virus that kept him out of the midweek victory at Hibernian. However, a slight doubt remains over Larsson's strike partner Chris Sutton.

Rangers have lost Mikel Arteta after the young Spaniard injured a hamstring in the midweek win over Livingston. The 20-year-old has been outstanding in his first season in Scottish football and his loss is a significant blow to the Ibrox team.

"Just because we have lost one man does not mean we cannot win," McLeish insisted. "Of course I don't want to lose key players, but we can juggle the pack and we have the resources to cope."

He can at least rely on the returning Peter Lovenkrands, who takes it as a personal affront if he fails to score in Old Firm games.

O'Neill plans to appeal against UEFA's ban before tomorrow's deadline. "I want to do it properly and will put together a video," he said.

But for now he is concentrating on the task in hand.

"People talk about Lazio against Roma or the South American derbies in terms of atmosphere, but this is a very big and famous match and you have to savour them. It has so much significance in the lives of so many people."

Rangers manager McLeish insists Old Firm fans will not let the nation down just days before Scotland and Ireland find out if they have been chosen to host Euro 2008.

The explosive fixture has resulted in shameful scenes being broadcast around the world in the past - most notably the image of referee Hugh Dallas with blood pouring from a head wound after being struck by a coin during 90 minutes of mayhem in May 1999.

McLeish believes there is no danger of the tie providing anything other than top entertainment for football fans. He said: "I don't think there has been too many problems with the supporters. The policing has been excellent and the security has been tremendous, and the players have behaved as well.

"So I don't think we have recent history which means we should be concerned. The players know it's a showpiece game, it's on live television and there is no hiding place so they have to play hard and fair.

"As long as both sets of supporters support their teams to the hilt and enjoy it from a football perspective then I think everyone will be happy."

But McLeish admits he can never relax in the dug-out even when his side are enjoying a comfortable lead - as their midweek game against Livingston showed when they were four goals ahead only to finish the game 4-3.

McLeish knows that Celtic hold the upper hand heading to Ibrox as a win would allow them to move four points clear and even a draw would keep them at the top of the table. Three points for Rangers would allow them to leapfrog their bitter rivals.

 - Guardian Service