Graeme Souness believes Rangers have been handed the perfect opportunity to put their difficult start behind them when they face Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday.
Derek McInnes' side have responded to a difficult opening to the season by putting together four consecutive victories, including Wednesday night's 1-0 win over St Mirren.
Now their biggest test awaits as Celtic head to Ibrox for Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, with the two sides set to meet again at Celtic Park in the league just seven days later.
Souness says it's time for Rangers to prove themselves
For Souness, there is no better fixture for Rangers to demonstrate that their fortunes have changed.
"They've not made life easy for themselves, it's been a difficult start,” he reflected.
"But if there was a game to, if you're ever going through a difficult period at a football club and there's a game to put it right, it's playing your nearest rival and beating them.
"So this is an opportunity for Rangers to put whatever's happened behind them, I know they're on a decent run now, put it behind them and give encouragement to their supporters.
"You know, beating Celtic, there's no better game to give them that confidence going forward and to make supporters have that belief going forward."
Souness was reluctant to make any sweeping predictions about Rangers' chances of winning silverware at this stage of the season but he believes Sunday's match can provide an early statement.
"Of course, you know, it's very early in the season and you see how things pan out over a season, you'd be crazy to start trying to say who's going to win the league for sure right now,” he said.
"This is a game, they're always important, the first one's always super important.
"I didn't put a marker down, it's in the Premier Sports Cup, so this is a big game for both teams."
'Being second here equates to criticism'
Souness also offered an insight into the expectations demanded at Rangers.
He believes the pressure is such that league position alone cannot tell the full story of how a team is being judged at Ibrox.
"My experience of being here is, if you could be playing inferior football to Celtic, but you're top of the league because of a bad referee or a good refereeing decision or a bit of luck on the day, sending off whatever, so you could be Rangers top of the league playing inferior football to Celtic, but all the focus is on Celtic,” he said.
"You could be the best team playing football here but be second in the league and you're getting a stick.
"Being second here equates to criticism and you could be playing the best football, so this is an early opportunity for Rangers there at home to put a marker down to make our supporters believe.
"Like any supporter, it's not rocket science, I want to see them play attractive football, front foot, defend well and score more goals in opposition.”
'You need to have men in your dressing room'
Souness also believes Rangers' recent adversity can ultimately strengthen McInnes' squad.
They have already experienced disappointing results and European disappointment, but the response has been positive.
"It's very difficult to play for Rangers, because I come back to it, if you're second you're deemed a failure,” he explained.
"You've got to keep your focus, take the criticism when it comes and deal with it and be strong about it.
"You need to have men, and it must be the same for Celtic, you need men in your dressing room.
"So, they've had criticism, they've dealt with it, and they've bounced back, which is very encouraging.
"Some people need a great deal of confidence, and then there's others who don't need so much. So, it's those guys that have to drag the rest with them, at this time."
'This is a unique game'
McInnes has played in Old Firm matches himself, as had Souness, but he believes nothing can completely prepare a new player for the experience.
The former Rangers boss recalled his own first taste of the fixture and explained why it stands apart from other major derbies.
"I can remember my first Old Firm game, I came here, a serious player, played at the highest level, played in big games, big derby games, this is a unique game,” he said.
"You have to work it out pretty quickly, early on."
Sunday's match will be played without away supporters after Rangers and Celtic agreed to a temporary arrangement covering Old Firm fixtures for the remainder of the season. The decision followed the disorder surrounding the Scottish Cup meeting at Ibrox in March.
Souness believes that will inevitably take something away from the spectacle.
"I'm just sorry that the supporters won't be in, because that certainly adds to the atmosphere and the occasion,” he said.
"But if you're playing in the games, you've just got to don't play the occasion.
"Go out there before, feel it, but again, no crowd, it'll be very different.
"I think this time round it's just about being aware of what it means to your supporters to win this game.
"I get people in England, grown men wanting to come to this game. Could you get me tickets, will you come up with us? And it just wouldn't be the same. Football's not the same without the support."
Souness backs McInnes to understand the occasion
Despite the enormous pressure surrounding Sunday's match, Souness does not believe McInnes needs any advice from him.
The Rangers boss has experienced the fixture as both a player and manager and knows exactly what awaits him.
"No advice. He's more experienced about Scottish football than I am,” he explained.
"It's just the expectation level that you feel and the build-up to it from your supporters wherever you go.
"You know, supermarkets, filling your car up with petrol, at the golf club, wherever. You're getting reminded, this is a big one this weekend. He'll know that.
"You don't think of losing that game. That's unthinkable. You just think how you're going to win it."
For Rangers, Sunday's meeting therefore represents more than a cup quarter final.
It is an opportunity to turn four consecutive victories into genuine belief, put a difficult opening behind them and give their supporters the statement Souness believes they are waiting for.
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