TOMMY BURNS, the Celtic manager, has urged his players not to become obsessed with Glasgow rivals Rangers. The Old Firm rivals meet at Parkhead tonight (Sky Sports, 8.0) in one of the most eagerly awaited Glasgow derbies for years.

Rangers, champions for the last, seven seasons, take an eight point lead into the fixture, with Celtic having two games in hand. Celtic are in the best position for eight years to wrest the championship back across the city for the first time since 1988.

Ending Rangers march towards a nine in a row run of championship wins - achieved by Celtic under Jock Stein between 1966 and 1974 - should be a further motivation. "Any Celtic player would know the importance of that achievement to our supporters," said Burns. "We will do our utmost to make sure it does not happen we want our turn of the glory.

However, he says stopping Rangers from matching, or even surpassing, that run could become a damaging obsession. "It could become damaging to us. Everything would not fall apart for Celtic if we do not stop them. We are in a position of strength now and will grow by the year."

For now, Burns is concentrating solely on pegging back Walter Smith's side tonight. "If we play to our capabilities we'll win. But we will need to be at our best as Rangers are a very good side. They are champions, a proud club. But we've players who are hungry too.

Rangers manager Smith admits the side that wins the New Year meeting usually gains a psychological edge for the second half of the season. Nine times in the last 10 years the Old Firm derby winners in January have gone on to take the title.