ANOTHER Premiership test has been passed. Now it is time for the Old Firm examination.

Pedro Caixinha’s first five matches have yielded three wins and given him an insight into life at Ibrox. His sixth will be the most enlightening 90 minutes of his reign to date.

The Portuguese was given a taste of derby day in Glasgow just hours after he put pen-to-paper and was confirmed as Mark Warburton’s successor last month.

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There were plenty of positives for Caixinha to take at Parkhead as Clint Hill’s late leveller ensured Graeme Murty bowed out as boss on a high note.

On Sunday, it will be Caixinha that is in the dugout. The pressure will be on his shoulders and it will be his blueprint that will come under scrutiny.

The stakes are high, but the rewards are substantial. Just weeks into his Ibrox reign, the chance for Old Firm glory is one that Caixinha won’t want to let slip through his grasp.

Rangers will head to Hampden with a spring in their step after successive Premiership wins over Aberdeen and Partick Thistle but it will require a leap forward if they are to clinch a Scottish Cup final berth.

The victory against the Jags on Saturday was straightforward as goals in either half from Kenny Miller and Jon Toral ensured the Light Blues remain undefeated under the guidance of their new boss.

It was job done from Rangers, although it was far from a vintage display. The Gers were good enough, but they weren’t great.

The Ibrox crowd were sent home happy in the end but there was little to get excited about during a flat first half hour as Caixinha’s side struggled to get going or find any rhythm.

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When they needed inspiration, it was Miller that stepped up once again. The cross from James Tavernier was pin-point, the header from Miller executed perfectly as he beat Niall Keown and nodded the ball into the turf and beyond the reaches of keeper Tomas Cerny.

The Jags made the trip from Firhill in high spirits after securing their top six status last weekend, but from the moment they fell behind it never looked like they would end their long wait for a win in Govan.

When Toral rifled the ball beyond Cerny just nine minutes into the second half, the points were staying at Ibrox. It was a strike the Spaniard deserved for another accomplished performance, although he had midfield partner Emerson Hyndman to thank as his quick footwork opened up the Thistle defence.

The goal was greeted with a roar of celebration from Caixinha and Ibrox would cheer at the final whistle as Rangers kept alive their fading hopes of finishing second in the top flight this term. Unfortunately for the Gers, they didn’t receive a helping hand from St Johnstone as Aberdeen emerged victorious at McDiarmid Park to maintain their nine point advantage in the standings.

The chances of being best of the rest are slim. The dream of Scottish Cup glory is still alive, though.

After spending Easter Sunday recovering from their Jags clash, Caixinha’s squad will have another day off before returning to Auchenhowie on Tuesday morning. The countdown to Hampden will then begin.

Caixinha will look to treat the build-up to derby day the same as every other match but the prize at the end of the week is the most significant one that has been at stake so far. An ordinary week could have an extraordinary end.

The 46-year-old has plenty to consider as the hours tick down towards the resumption of Old Firm hostilities and the first clash of what could be a dramatic double-header.

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Caixinha has been flexible with his tactical approach to date and he will surely take into account the failures and successes of Warburton and Murty when deciding how to proceed at Hampden. Rangers have found to their cost what can happen if they are too open, while they also know the effect that a more pragmatic, high-energy performance can have.

There are big calls to be made at the back, especially if Clint Hill or Rob Kiernan are available for selection. Does David Bates keep his spot alongside Danny Wilson? Does Myles Beerman drop out for the more experienced Lee Hodson at left-back?

Caixinha admitted after the game on Saturday that he has not been entirely satisfied with Rangers’ defensive showings, even although his side have now recorded three successive clean sheets.

He has spoken about his side performing better as a collective and being able to defend and attack as a unit. It will certainly require a team effort at Hampden.

There is still room for improvement, but progress has been made in recent weeks, with Beerman and Bates more than playing their part. Both could now be pitched into Old Firm battle.

Like their manager, it will be a new experience. Only time will tell how they handle it.

Victory over Celtic would not completely make amends for a poor campaign that has seen Rangers underperform and underachieve this term but it would make inroads into repairing some of self-inflicted damage that they have suffered.

It is the biggest match of their season. Win it, and they will still have an even bigger one to come in May.