One of the biggest challenges facing Derek McInnes is rebuilding not only Rangers' squad, but also the mentality required to win the fixtures that define a season.
Recent campaigns have seen Celtic hold the upper hand in the Old Firm rivalry, with Rangers repeatedly falling short in the crucial matches that have shaped title races and the latter stages of cup competitions.
McInnes, a lifelong Rangers supporter and former player, understands the significance of those occasions better than most.
He has also added players with strong knowledge of the club in Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie and the expected addition of goalkeeping coach Allan McGregor.
Dan Neil may not share those Rangers roots, but the midfielder arrives at Ibrox with first-hand experience of one of English football's fiercest rivalries.
A Sunderland academy graduate and lifelong supporter of the Black Cats, Neil never hid what facing Newcastle United meant to him.
Ahead of an FA Cup meeting between the clubs, he said: "I'm a Sunderland player and lifelong fan but all my pals are Newcastle. I can't wait to knock bitter rivals out of the Cup."
Neil also spoke openly about the opportunity such fixtures present.
"It's a massive chance as a team and as an individual to really make a name for yourself and put yourself down in history around this area. If you can get on the scoresheet, you're written down in history."
Those comments illustrate a player who understands that certain matches carry greater emotional weight than others.
At Sunderland, Neil experienced the expectation that accompanies representing a club whose supporters demand success against their biggest rivals.
It is a pressure that mirrors many aspects of life at Rangers, where results against Celtic often shape perceptions of an entire season.
Neil himself acknowledged those similarities after signing for Rangers.
"I have played for Sunderland for a number of years and the weight and expectation of the fans to win every week and the feeling of it making or breaking people's weekends is something that drives me.
"I've spoken to many people who have been here, and they said it's a very similar feeling."
That mindset could prove an important addition to McInnes' evolving squad.
While quality remains the priority, Rangers are also assembling a group containing players and coaches who understand what fierce football rivalries demand, particularly in the Glasgow goldfish bowl.
McInnes, Shankland, McCrorie and McGregor all arrive with deep Rangers connections, while Neil brings experience of carrying the expectations of an area locked in an intense local rivalry.
Whether that translates into success against Celtic will ultimately be decided on the pitch.
However, as Rangers attempt to reshape the culture within the dressing room, McInnes appears to be placing increasing value on players who understand that, at clubs of this size, some fixtures mean considerably more than three points.
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