McManus and Rangers captain Barry Ferguson had to be separated while David Weir and Gary Caldwell were handed one-match bans after clashing yards away on the Celtic Park turf.

The skirmish followed an eventful Glasgow derby which saw Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar sent off before Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink claimed a winner for Celtic deep into injury-time.

The short spell between the Parkhead derbies has seen relations between the old rivals become strained by a fixture row.

Celtic have complained about the possible extension to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season should Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final, while the Ibrox club believe the SPL should do more to help their European cause.

But McManus believes the hostility will be in the past when they meet in the east end of Glasgow on Sunday lunchtime.

"That was done and dusted as soon as we got off the pitch," the Scotland international said.

"As usual it was blown out of proportion, no doubt the Rangers lads feel exactly the same way about it as we do.

"As soon as you come off the pitch, it's forgotten about."

But while McManus brushed off suggestions of settling scores, he has urged his team-mates to win their personal duels against their opposite numbers.

Leaders Celtic need to win to keep the pressure on Rangers going into their three games in hand.

McManus said: "I think in Old Firm games, first and foremost, you need to win your individual battles.

"If you have seven or eight or nine players come out on top in their individual battles, then you are going to win the game.

"It's at home and every home game we are looking to win. Sunday is no different."

While a Celtic victory would put them five points clear, McManus is not sitting around hoping that quadruple-chasing Rangers fold under the strain of their hectic season finale.

"I don't think it's a case of thinking that they will crack," the 26-year-old said.

"We will concentrate on ourselves, we have done that all season.

"When you start looking to other people, you start to lose your focus on your own set of players.

"We are not looking at that. We have four games left and are looking to win all four if we want to have any chance to win the title.

"They have got more games than us to go but that's the way the season has panned out. We can only concentrate on ourselves.

"It's important to get the points on the board as quickly as you can, but the season will pan out over time."