IF Celtic turn up at Ibrox today with their A-game it will be, most probably, the case of how many goals they will beat Rangers by.

Indeed, Brendan Rodgers believes his side can conquer all even if they have an off day. Not that they've suffered many of them under their manager.

Rangers will need to reach heights previously not seen under Pedro Caixinha and hope the champions aren't themselves by some distance.

However, Rodgers insists one of his group's strengths is how they can find a way to win even during more testing games.

He said: "I think the beauty of this group, and what they’ve been able to foster, is that they don’t necessarily have to be 10 out of 10 every week.

"It’s very difficult to play perfect football. But we have a game that allows us to be defensively strong, aggressive.

“And what we’ve developed, cultivated over the last 15 months is the ability for lots of players to be able to score goals. So we can be a real threat going forward, good speed, good movement, good technique.

“Then you align that with a real work ethic and a fitness level — that makes us a difficult opponent.

“But, yes, we have to bring all of that to games as often as we can and hopefully it gets us a result.

"You can never be perfect. You can be close to it but it is still very early in the season. I am really happy with how we are developing as a squad.

"Look at our game on Wednesday night. Someone told me it was the first time since 2003 that Celtic had scored more than two goals at Dundee.

"Fourteen years is a long time. And I can see why, having been up there last year and won 1-0 and 2-1.

"The level of control and calmness that we had in eventually getting our goals is a mark of the team, their composure and the charisma they are developing. It is great to see but we still have a lot of work to do. I am happy with where the group are."

Celtic are a good footballing team but can handle themselves if things start to get feisty, as it did at Den's Park and, of course, that kind of game may materialise at Ibrox.

Rodgers has been pleased with the way his players have kept their head against Rangers when the tackles have been flying in.

He said: "We’ve had control. It’s important, especially in big games, that you have that.

"You do have the aggression of course, but it always has to be controlled. The team can look after themselves.

"They’re fine. They have enough experience in there, enough nous and enough temperament to deal with that."

So what does this fixture mean to Rodgers who, so far, has had a pretty enjoyable ride.

Rodgers said: "I really enjoy it. You do when you’re on the good side and I’ve been fortunate with that.

"I know the importance of the game and what it means to the supporters. These games are always very tense. You are playing these games for your supporters.

"They are a real joy to prepare for. The atmosphere in both grounds is great. You hope that you can play well and get a result."

And the other hope is that there isn't a repeat of the racist abuse aimed towards Scott Sinclair last time at Ibrox.

Rodgers said: "There seems to be elements of that up here that, I’ve got to say, surprised me, to be honest.

"It’s not what anyone wants to see in society now, where you’d like to have thought that sort of discrimination is not there, especially in sport."