GRAEME MURTY admits he would savour leading Rangers into battle with Celtic in the upcoming Old Firm derby.

The Ibrox caretaker manager is now looking increasingly likely to still by in the Gers hot seat for the game on March 12 as time marches on in the search for a new permanent boss.

There are just 12 days to go before the showdown at Parkhead, the same venue Rangers were pulled apart at by their Glasgow rivals in a 5-1 demolition back in September.

Read more: I feel sorry for myself at Rangers, says Graeme Murty

But caretaker Murty, who was thrown in charge of first team duties just over two weeks ago, has backed himself to make the most of the occasion if he is given the chance.

He said: “Would I welcome it? If it happens it would be a stellar moment for me as a person, to walk out there and experience that - the positive and negative parts of the atmosphere, the hostility, that exuberance that Celtic have got at the moment and the challenge of preparing a team to go and handle that.

“Would it be difficult? Yeah.

“Would it be something to look back on and say I learned a great deal about myself and about the players? Absolutely.

“But I’ve said from the start it would be presumptuous of me to project that far forward.”

Just a week into his post after taking over from Mark Warburton, the youth coach admitted he was daunted by the prospect of going across the city to face domestically-unbeaten Celtic.

Read more: I feel sorry for myself at Rangers, says Graeme Murty

However, now the Premiership clash is edging closer, he believes he can handle the red hot occasion.

“Yeah because I try really hard not to get caught up in what goes on outside the pitch," he said. "Okay, me and the fourth official swapped a few forthright views the other night but, generally, I concern myself only with what the players need.

“But, it would be new to me. Your intentions can be all well and good but until you are put in that situation you don’t know how you’ll handle it. So I couldn’t tell you just yet.

“Ask me afterwards.”

It has been far from an easy ride for Murty during his interim charge at Ibrox and tomorrow's game at home to St Johnstone will present another potential hazard in what has been a steep learning curve.

He concedes that his mind has been allowed to wonder, if only slightly, to that game at Celtic Park.

Read more: I feel sorry for myself at Rangers, says Graeme Murty

But given his team have now lost two games on the bounce, the 42-year-old is aware his main focus is not able to shift very far.

He said: “Do I allow myself to think about it? Minimally. I would say less than 10 per cent of my thoughts are on that game because we have two massive games to go beforehand. I’m actually jot even thinking that much about Saturday, I’m thinking about Wednesday’s game because it’s really important that we get the win.

“If it occurs that I’m in post come Celtic, the message won’t change to the players. It’s all about them.”