Walter Smith's record in the famous fixture has perhaps caused Strachan a few sleepless nights over the last 15 months, with the Rangers boss claiming victory in all three tussles with Celtic since his return to club football.

This time the stakes could hardly be higher, with the Celtic boss admitting another defeat would "make life very difficult" for the Hoops, who are seeking a third successive SPL title.

Rangers, with a game in hand over Celtic, would open up a six-point lead at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and become red-hot title favourites.

Strachan said: "Do I worry as a manager? I worry before every league game that we play that my team could get beaten.

"I have a fear of getting beaten. I don't fear anybody but I do fear getting beaten and I have done since I was a kid.

"It worries me when I don't win any game, you would like to win them all.

"I didn't go overboard a couple of years ago when we were winning most of the (Old Firm) games.

"I understood that they were big games and they could easily go one way or another.

"But I would say that Rangers deserved to win the last game and I don't have a problem with that.

"I can deal with defeat. I don't like it, but I have to deal with it."

Such an outcome at Ibrox on Saturday is almost unthinkable for Celtic, if they are to retain any real hope of successfully defending the championship.

"It would make life very difficult if we get beaten, that's for sure," Strachan said.

"We will go with the same attitude and we will try to win the game. Hopefully we get a bit of luck and play well because you need a bit of luck in Old Firm games sometimes.

"We will find out whether we are physically and mentally strong. Most of the players have got decent technique but the mental and physical strength will be tested."

Rangers caused a stir on Monday by withdrawing four players from Scotland's squad for the friendly against Croatia, with Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, Christian Dailly and Allan McGregor all nevertheless expected to report fit for the Old Firm derby.

Celtic's Barry Robson was another absentee but Hoops men Stephen McManus, Paul Hartley, Gary Caldwell and Scott Brown all participated in the 1-1 draw at Hampden. McManus replaced Ferguson as captain for the night.

"You just put up with it," said Strachan. "When you've got a lot of players on international duty, you have to deal with it."

McManus and Hartley both played the full 90 minutes and Strachan refused to comment on whether he would have preferred a less taxing night for his players.

But he added: "It's not my right to tell a Scotland manager what he does with the players.

"I'm just quite happy that four of our players picked up more caps because it's nice to have loads of caps. I'm just disappointed that Barry couldn't get a cap.

"There is no problem with the fitness of my players, no problem whatsoever.

"You would need to ask Rangers about their players."