It was perhaps apt that Celtic manager Rodgers chose to use a boxing analogy as he pored over last weekend's Glasgow Derby bout between the Scottish Premiership's two heavyweights.

The Northern Irishman knows his team is far from the finished article but he is well aware that Celtic can still pack a punch when it matters. The stalemate last weekend in Govan didn't deliver a knockout blue to the green or blue halves' hopes of winning the title.

With the rematch taking place on home soil, Rodgers is confident that his men can win the decision come May. Celtic reached a level at Ibrox that showed why football like pugilism is an art, not a skill. The champions had skilfully manoeuvred themselves into a winning position by the 55th minute but had to withstand a few blows before recovering to almost land the late sucker punch themselves before Rabbi Matondo decided to get involved in the proceedings. Both live to fight another day as the race for the coveted league flag hots up.

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Rodgers is adamant that his men are in a good place now. In purely footballing terms he sees Celtic as the artisans in this two-horse title race. The 3-3 draw at Ibrox has done nothing to alter Rodgers' mindset either. For long spells, Celtic were by far the superior side behind enemy lines. Rodgers' men proved they have the guts but he also believes they possess the guile and craft to pick their opponents off.

Celtic boxed clever at Ibrox. If they can replicate anything like that form in the six-game home stretch for the title then it will take a good team to prevent them from making it three in a row. The 51-year-old said: "I was pleased at the time and after coming away and analysing the game logically as well. The integrity of the team, how they played and how they conducted themselves in the game was fantastic.

"From the start of the game, we were attack-minded. We had to go through moments of pressure and that is when you need to dig in and bite on the gumshield and take it. We did that very, very well. We came through that and looked like we could win the game. I was so, so pleased. I always maintain it is the hardest place to go as a Celtic player when you go to Ibrox, especially with no supporters.

"To go there and deliver that performance which highlighted lots of good parts of our game with and without the ball. We know we have lots of difficult fixtures to come but when that fixture comes round again, the energy of 60,000 people and what that will give us at home makes me think that we are in a really good place.

"The title run-in is exciting. I think each game will be exciting. We are excited by that and we are really bringing our big level now to the games and getting important players back and functioning well. As we showed in the first 55 minutes of the Rangers game, we were outstanding in our football and our intensity and real attacking mindset. We can only look at ourselves and go into each game looking to produce that level of performance."

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It's no wonder. The team were given a rapturous reception from hundreds of supporters who had gathered at Celtic Park last weekend to cheer their heroes off as they headed to their favourite hotel for an overnighter in preparation for the derby clash. He insists that the Celtic support are a massive driving force as his team continue to pen their own narrative.Rodgers said: "It was a big impact. It was amazing.

"They told me here that when we get to the stadium there’ll be a couple hundred supporters there to greet us. Then I got a call as I was coming up towards the stadium saying they’d miscalculated it, and there were a few more! When I turned in and I saw the lights and everyone it was such a huge lift. Did it surprise me? No. The support of the club is incredible and without being able to be at the stadium, that was their way of giving us a great send-off. I know - especially a lot of the new guys - were taken aback by that, as was I, because it gave us that real lift driving away.

"My message to the Celtic supporters is to just keep the faith and keep giving us that incredible support because it really makes the difference. I’m sure there’ll be some edgy moments in the six games and the cup game, but just keep the faith and keep with the team and give us everything, and we’ll give you everything back on the pitch."

Celtic will be without the services of Daizen Maeda (hamstring) and Liam Scales (abductor) and skipper Callum McGregor will continue to be monitored although Honduran winger Luis Palma is available for selection for the visit of Steve Robinson's men.

Rodgers said: "Daizen will miss the weekend. So we will need to see how he is. He picked up an injury high up on his hamstring and his tendon. We will have to see what that looks like over the coming weeks. He is certainly not available for the weekend. Liam Scales has picked up a slight strain in his abductor so the likelihood is that he won't be involved. Luis Palma is available, which is important. He’d only had a few days of training last week leading into that game, but he’s had a really good week to 10-12 days now, so he’ll come into the squad."

Four is the magic number for Celtic as they could move four points clear of Rangers at the top of the table for 24 hours at least as Philippe Clement's men head to Dingwall for a tricky encounter in the Highlands with Ross County on Sunday. As Rodgers duly noted they will be backed by 60,000 the next time Rangers come calling but the same amount will also cram into Celtic Park today as the champions attempt to see off St Mirren for a fourth time domestically this season.

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The midweek clash between Dundee and Rangers was postponed for a second time leaving Celtic with a real opportunity to exert pressure at a critical juncture of the season. Asked if he believed that points on the board were better than games in hand, Rodgers said: "I believe in where you aim to finish at the end of the season. How you collect your points is all that matters.

"I saw the game (Dundee v Rangers) was postponed which is unfortunate for the two managers as you make your preparations for the games. However, you can only ever concentrate on your own team and doing your own job."

Whoever does their job best during the Scottish Premiership title slugfest over the next few weeks will ultimately prevail. The two Glasgow pugilists are going toe-to-toe. One of them will hit the canvas come May. The prize at stake as always is to be declared the greatest. Well, the greatest in Scotland, anyway.