STEVEN DAVIS reckons back-to-back defeats at Parkhead cost Rangers the championship last season.

STEVEN DAVIS reckons back-to-back defeats at Parkhead cost Rangers the championship last season.

Now the Northern Ireland internationalist is determined to set his team up to go one better this term by coming out on top of the first Old Firm clash of the season.

Walter Smith finally completed the signing for the midfielder from Fulham in a £3million deal at the end of last week after spending most of the summer trying to agree a fee for him on the back of an impressive loan spell at the end of last term.

He played against Aberdeen at the weekend and will remain in the starting line-up for Sunday's showdown.

And he realises the importance of the match after losing the final two games of last term - and the title.

He said: "We had two bad results at Parkhead last season. We were in a great position going into the two games and losing them probably led to Celtic winning the league.

"It was a major disappointment to lose these games and then ultimately not win the league so we want to put that right this year.

"I think we showed last year that we can perform well there. I feel we were a bit hard done by in both matches as we deserved something from each of them. These games could be vital so it would be great if we could get off to a good start."

For Davis, the prospect of facing Celtic once again is one he feared might not be possible as he was left in limbo as the two clubs struggled to come to an financial agreement for the 23-year-old.

He told the Rangers News: "I'm delighted to be back. It had been on-going all summer and it's great that it is finally done and dusted. I kept hearing bits and pieces so it's terrific that I finally signed and now I can concentrate on the football."