Celtic are struggling with an injury crisis ahead of tomorrow's Old Firm derby at Celtic Park, which could see Rangers crowned as the new champions if they win.
Celtic could be without their Scottish international midfield trio Paul Lambert, Craig Burley and Jackie McNamara, putting even more responsibility on prolific striker Henrik Larsson to stop Rangers from getting the win which would put them 10 points clear with only three games left.
It was no coincidence that when Larsson failed to score last Saturday, Celtic slipped to a costly defeat at St Johnstone.
That handed the initiative to Rangers, but the 27-year-old has scored three times in Old Firm matches this season and he knows victory for Celtic would close the gap to four points again and offer a slim lifeline.
"We need to win this one otherwise we are finished," Larsson said yesterday.
"The hope is always there for us. It is going to be difficult, of course, but you can't stop hoping." Rangers are still smarting from the memory of their last trip across the city, when Celtic routed them 5-1 last November and Larsson scored twice.
"It's always nice to beat Rangers," said the Swede. "Old Firm games are always special because the interest in them is huge. The last time at Celtic Park was a great result, but winning 1-0 this time would be fine."
Larsson's Swedish team-mate, Johan Mjallby, could also miss the match. A muscle strain forced him to pull out of his country's friendly defeat by the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Wednesday.
Rangers have injury worries over German international midfielder Jorg Albertz and Scotland winger Neil McCann, who both have toe injuries. However, the latest addition to the Ibrox league of nations encounter, US international midfielder, Claudio Reyna, should make his Old Firm baptism.
"There are not many games in the world like this and I'm really excited," said Reyna.
"The guys have told me all about it and being an American, I feel I have to prove that I can play at a big club."
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