Skipper Stephen McManus was among those given a day off after arriving back from Scotland's defeat in Georgia in the early hours.

Strachan could also be without Paul Hartley, Gary Caldwell, Scott Brown and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, while every recognised right-back on his books in injured.

And he feels both Celtic and Rangers will struggle to play to their best when they meet at Ibrox for the 12.30pm kick-off.

Strachan said: "To give full value for money, it would be nice to have a couple of days' more break and the people who pay good money to go and see their own teams can get fresh players.

"That is not going to happen on Saturday, it's going to be mentally and physically a problem. It's hard to deal with sometimes.

"You want to find players at their sharpest. I know fine well you get a better game of football if they have another two days' rest."

He added: "I've not heard anything untoward about the fitness of any of the (international) players.

"But to ask the players to come in - and we have got to play at 12 o'clock on Saturday - is not possible.

"The guys who had to play, it must be really draining for them.

"So we have just said 'we will see you on Friday' and we will try to put something resembling a cohesive slant on the Old Firm.

"We are only together for a couple of hours before a huge game of football, but that's what happens when you play at that level.

"We can't do anything, Hartley and Jan Vennegoor, they have just being getting treatment and doing some jogging.

"We were only left with five or six players. It's been a bit higgelty-piggelty."

Hartley and Vennegoor of Hesselink are unlikely to make the Ibrox trip as they nurse hamstring injuries along with Brown, while Caldwell trained today after pulling out of the Scotland squad with a knee injury.

"Caldwell and Brown have a better chance than the other two but not a great chance," Strachan said.

"It's entirely up to the medical staff and them. Scott's not there just now, Gary did a wee bit.

"We have to see how Gary is tomorrow but he won't be risked if it's going to hamper him long term."

With right-backs Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe, Mark Wilson and Paul Caddis out and Caldwell struggling, Strachan is unsure how he will fill the position.

He said: "Right-backs? No, there are none of them about at all, we have looked everywhere, I can't find any.

"I have looked in the treatment room for any that look like they can breathe properly, but no.

"We have to think about it, we have to see how some of the guys come through fitness tests."