Tuesday 27 December 2016 16:05, UK
Mark Warburton says his Rangers players cannot afford to be distracted by the upcoming Hogmanay clash with Celtic ahead of their trip to St Johnstone.
The Gers host their bitter rivals at Ibrox on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1HD, but, before that, take on Tommy Wright's St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night.
Warburton understands the magnitude of the New Year's Eve fixture against Brendan Rodgers' side but is also fully aware of the threat posed by St Johnstone, who his team have yet to defeat in his two previous clashes as Gers boss.
Asked if it would be human nature for his men to have one eye on the showdown with Celtic, he said: "We can't do that.
"You could win the Old Firm game but lose to St Johnstone. I understand [the excitement levels that surround the Celtic match] and I'm not understating that in any shape or form. But it's about the three points and the next game against St Johnstone - it has to be that way.
"So we can't look ahead. As soon as Wednesday is out of the way, then we will look ahead to the weekend."
However, frontman Martyn Waghorn reckons the lure of landing a starting slot against Celtic could be all the incentive his team-mates need to leave Perth with three points.
"Subconsciously, I think everyone is going to be thinking that they are playing for their place in the Old Firm game," he said. "It's a huge game and everybody wants to be involved in it. You're only going to do that, though, by working hard on the training pitch and the same if you get the call to play on Wednesday.
"We've got a huge squad with a great amount of talent and there will always be guys disappointed not to be involved.
"It's up to people to work hard and stake their claim. We've got another big game on Wednesday coming up with three points on offer so we will see where that leads to."
The former Sunderland and Leicester striker is keen to finally make his mark against Celtic after missing out on last season's Scottish Cup semi-final win through injury before substitute appearances in two defeats to the Parkhead side this term, including a Betfred Cup semi-final loss.
"It would nice to show what I can do against Celtic," said the 25-year-old. "The first game obviously wasn't great by our standards. For me, it was my first game back after injury and it was a disappointing result.
"The semi-final was bitterly disappointing as well. But we've taken positives from that game. We played a lot better and showed what we can do.
"We're on the good run at the minute and if we can pick up another good win at St Johnstone then we will be full of confidence going into the game on the 31st. It will be a packed-out Ibrox and I'm sure it will be some occasion."
However, the Gers will need to improve on Saturday's narrow 1-0 win over Inverness if they are to overcome St Johnstone. Their fourth straight win was confirmed when Waghorn's 13th-minute cross was turned into the Highlanders' net by Caley Thistle defender Brad McKay.
"We were sloppy, a bit too slow, a bit too mundane," Waghorn said. "But we showed signs that we are a true winning team by digging in and grinding out a performance."
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