Scottish Premier League: Today's first Old Firm match of the season could be classed as an afterthought, sandwiched as it is between an international double-header and Champions League matches.

Yet the Rangers manager, Walter Smith, stressed yesterday his side's ambitions to wrestle the Premier League title from Celtic after a two-year drought will ensure a typically intense occasion at Ibrox this lunchtime.

"This club hasn't won anything for two years," Smith said. "So where do we start, by winning the Champions League? You don't, do you? You start by trying to win the League Cup and then the Scottish Cup and then the league in that order."

The number of Old Firm players involved in Scotland's matches against Ukraine and Georgia within the last week has ensured neither Smith nor his Celtic counterpart, Gordon Strachan, has had much time to prepare for today's encounter. Strachan has already claimed fans may be "short-changed" amid such a frantic fixture schedule which sees his team face Benfica on Wednesday after Rangers host Barcelona 24 hours earlier.

"I agree with Gordon to the extent that the number of matches at this time of year make it practically impossible for the players," added the Rangers manager. "We are short-changing people a wee bit. I don't think the first Old Firm game is much of a barometer in terms of what is to come. They are just important games to win."

Darren O'Dea will become the unlikely benefactor from Celtic's dearth of right backs, with the young Irishman expected to start his first match of the season. O'Dea, naturally a left-sided centre half, will be the surprise name in Strachan's team after injury robbed the Celtic manager of Mark Wilson, Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe and Paul Hartley. Evander Sno and Jiri Jarosik will also be included from the start by the visitors, as will Scott Brown, who has recovered from the strained hamstring which caused him to miss Scotland's trip to Georgia.

Strachan, whose side begin the day three points ahead of their oldest rivals, will deploy Scott McDonald as a lone striker. Rangers have had similar personnel worries but their two remaining concerns regard players who were not on international duty, Jean-Claude Darcheville and Brahim Hemdani. Alan Hutton and Lee McCulloch have recovered from knocks they picked up during Scotland's win over Ukraine seven days ago.

It will be the first experience of a Glasgow derby for McCulloch, who has been one of Rangers' most impressive performers since his €3.2 million signing from Wigan in the summer. Despite being a Rangers supporter in his youth, he has never attended Old Firm match but is under no illusions over what to expect.

"I think the game will start at 100mph and finish at 100mph," said McCulloch. "It will be a battle, in which the first goal will be vital. But ourselves and the Celtic boys get on really well from being away with Scotland. We enjoy each other's company. Regardless of what happens on the park, we'll all be sitting down having a coffee together again afterwards."

These are changed days, indeed.

Rangers v Celtic Venue: Ibrox Kick-off: Today, 12.30 On TV: Setanta Sports 1.

• Guardian Service