PEDRO CAIXINHA insists he has no fears over fielding an unfamiliar defensive line if Bruno Alves and Declan John lose their Old Firm fitness races.

The pair had to be replaced during the second half of the Betfred Cup win over Partick Thistle on Tuesday night after picking up muscle injuries.

Ross McCrorie took over at centre-half alongside Fabio Cardoso, while Lee Hodson stepped in for John after he started in place of Lee Wallace.

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The Ibrox skipper will miss the Celtic clash tomorrow afternoon after being ruled out of action for up to eight weeks with a groin strain.

But boss Caixinha will have faith in whoever he selects to go into battle against Brendan Rodgers’ side at Ibrox.

He said: “When we closed the window I told everyone, ‘we have the players we asked for.’

“We have one squad that is complete, we have one squad which gives us options and solutions.

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“We have also one squad that is giving competitiveness. These situations are for you to make decisions.

“I will not have any problems at all placing our players - it doesn’t matter which players are in which position, age level or name - playing a game like the Old Firm because I believe in and trust each one of them.

“We win in experience (if Alves is available), we win in leadership, we win in presence. That’s what we win.

“I cannot guess. I am not very good at making guesses. I am a guy who looks to be real all the time.

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“I am a decision maker, but decision makers need information.

“And if I don’t have information I am not going to make a decision where I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“But when I have the information you can be sure that I might make the decision.

“The more information I have the better decisions I will take.”