Celtic v Rangers: Rookie manager Neil Lennon puts perfect record on the line

Yet only on Sunday can he supervise a success that would, at last, yield tangible reward.

Lennon's period as caretaker manager encompassed the first eight matches, but Rangers had already long vanished from sight in the defence of their title when he took over.

Meanwhile, the procession of victories in the current title campaign has been matched, step by step by Walter Smith's players, who arrive in the east end of Glasgow one goal better off in the goal difference column.

A win in this game, though, would push Celtic properly clear of their ancient rivals for the first time since Lennon took over, although he discounted the significance of the potential achievement on Friday: "I don't really bother about that," declared the Northern Irishman.

"Dundee at Tannadice was a test, Motherwell at Fir Park was a test. I know things didn't go well in Europe but you are always going to be judged on your next result – and the next one is Rangers.

"They are in good form, as are we. I'm just pleased with the start we've made and the consistency we've shown. I know that, if we were to lose this game, people would say: 'He hasn't got it' or 'He's not cut out for this yet.'

"I think that would be slightly unfair, considering that we've won 16 out of 16 league games so far. People should look beyond judging me on a game by game basis, but they won't. That's just in some people's DNA."

Lennon at least has the guaranteed respect of his opposite number. "He's been bold enough to change practically a whole group of players around and start again and the results they have achieved have shown that a brave decision has worked in his favour," said Smith.

Of Lennon's raft of summer signings, Daniel Majstorovic is arguably the most popular with the Hoops support and although he, like more than half of tomorrow's likely starting line-up, has no experience of the singular Old Firm derby atmosphere, the Swedish central defender has tasted comparatively spicy occasions during his spell in Greece with AEK Athens.

"The derbies in Greece are really, really hot. The people love their teams. It is not a team, it is a religion – and it is the same here I think," said Majstorovic.

"It never really boiled over, but the week before it is a different atmosphere and a different feeling. It is the same here now.

"The big derbies for AEK were against Panathinaikos and Olympiacos and they were tough games. The cup final we had with Olympiakos in 2009 was amazing – 4-4 in the end, but we lost 17-16 on pens.

"It had everything. We scored to make it 4-3 in 90 minutes, they made it 4-4 in 93 minutes. It was a game I will never forget. Our fans were on one side, their fans were on the other side. It was a lovely feeling. Hopefully it will be the same on Sunday."

Yes, well, 'lovely feeling' is one of the descriptions least applied to the Old Firm atmosphere, apart that is from those who savour the taste of success. Referee Willie Collum will have no leisure to look around him and absorb the ambience.

At the age of 31 he is to take charge of a Celtic v Rangers collision for the first time. Celtic, who took issue with match officials over a number of decisions in last season's derbies have been engaged in correspondence with the Scottish Football Association over Dougie McDonald's performance in their 2-1 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice last Sunday.

On the subject of an Old Firm debutant in charge of this fixture, Lennon said: "I'd say that refereeing an Old Firm game at any time is difficult and if it's his first one he might be a wee bit extra nervous.

"I just hope he has a strong game. We felt aggrieved at some of the decisions that went against us last year so I just hope he has a good game and makes the right decision at the big moments.

"We're not putting any extra pressure on him from our point of view and I don't want to do that. I hope he just starts from scratch and sees the game as it is."

If the contest yields the fluency and power Celtic displayed against Dundee United and Rangers produced against Valencia, we are entitled to anticipate a fine demonstration of football. There are other imperatives in any derby, of course, and they are magnified many times over in this one.

It would be an excellent achievement if the only blemish on either side's record after this one is the inevitable shedding of points which must occur, one way or the other. For Lennon, in his rookie year as an Old Firm manager, victory would be very heaven itself.