Celtic and Rangers fans are playing tricks on each other but diehard defence mechanism won't really kick in

There are always mind games in play before Glasgow’s big two butt heads on derby weekend.

Only this time it’s the supporters trying to play tricks rather than the opposition managers.

Celtic fans are going into this latest clash with a shrug. No matter what happens, their team will be at least 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership.

A draw will maintain the lead of 16 and victory will make it 19 and they will be home and hosed. Not that they aren’t already. Rangers fans? The league is up the spout and whether it’s 13, 16, 19 or 129, they’ve accepted the title is going to Parkhead so who cares?

Europe is where it’s at for them right now and Gers are flying the flag for Scotland again. Bigger fish to fry and all that. So, we might as well not bother with today then, eh?

Aye, right. Don’t believe a word of it. This is just a defence mechanism diehards use in the build up to an Old Firm/Glasgow derby, whatever label takes your fancy.

Fans of these clubs can’t bear to lose to the other, regardless of the background noise. It’s all bravado. You don’t have a century of hatred that is buried right into the bones and get to turn it on and off when it suits.

No one should be fooled by any of the ‘disnae matter’ patter. This always matters. Even if it’s only for a few days. It’s funny, the two guys who are actually talking up how much it matters are the managers.

While the rest of Glasgow and the West of Scotland are trying to pretend they don’t really care, these two can’t hide the fact it is absolutely mega for them.

Rodgers kicked it off last weekend with his line about Rangers stealing Celtic’s game in the defeat at Ibrox at Christmas. The Hoops manager was impressively magnanimous that day.

He admitted his team were