It's nearly time for Glasgow's day of days and Wednesday's big derby between Celtic and Rangers will feature a number of running battles.
In a 22-player strong ensemble cast there are sub-plots and feuds aplenty and this week will be no different.
Both teams will miss some key players with injuries, suspensions and even international call-ups but that won't impact the quality of Wednesday evening with so much at stake.
These two sides are still immensely strong and it shows in the minute gap at the top of the Premiership.
Gio van Bronckhorst has a slight advantage but those two points will evaporate with a loss at Parkhead as Ange Postecoglou looks to go top with a victory.
On the flipside an away win would repair a damaging January and restore Rangers' advantage as we head into the final months of the season.
Here are four head-to-heads where the game could be won and lost.
4 head-to-heads
Jota vs James Tavernier
"Our superstar from Portugal." That's what Celtic fans think of the Benfica loanee - though they'd very much like to stop referring to him as such. Might August's clash at Ibrox have been a different story with Jota on the left and Kyogo Furuhashi through the middle?
It raises an important question but of course Rangers were missing their skipper, the heartbeat of the team. And these two will get to know each other very closely across the 90 minutes.
Tavernier has endured something of a drop-off compared to last season but he's still performing very highly and has been helped by the change in manager.
Teams were learning how to exploit a gung-ho approach under Steven Gerrard and his runs forward are more carefully selected.
But has he come up against an opponent of Jota's quality yet? The number 17 just seems to have the lot with excellent dribbling, pace, finishing and, as we saw on Saturday, crossing ability.
He indulged in some crowd surfing after sticking it on a plate for Liel Abada but that's nothing compared to the adulation he'll receive if he plays his part in a Celtic win.
But it can't all be attack, attack, attack. If Tavernier is to be kept quiet Jota will need to do the dirty work as well by tracking back and helping Liam Scales or Greg Taylor at left-back.
James McCarthy vs Joe Aribo
In the green corner: an ageing defensive midfielder, said to have struggled with the intensity of Postecoglou's training and clearly only a starting option for such a frantic game by way of circumstance.
In the blue corner: Rangers' player of the year.
Nir Bitton's red card at the weekend really puts a new complexion on the midfield battle and while Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley have both looked quality since their debuts it's not all that clear if they'd be suited to the holding role. In any case, they're needed further ahead.
Callum McGregor also remains injured so the defensive midfield choices appear to be McCarthy or the unfancied Ismaila Soro.
We reckon Postecoglou would plump for the Irishman in that scenario - he sent for the veteran as soon as Bitton was sent off on Saturday - and if that's the case he has some job on his hands keeping Aribo at bay.
It's a tough ask for anyone let alone someone that hasn't played much this season but if he's got it in him this could be the moment he finally shows that Premier League class.
Aribo's quick feet can create something from nothing and Van Bronckhorst loves to get him running beyond the forward line to cause some disruption.
Josip Juranovic vs Ryan Kent
The season hasn't quite got going for Kent after his outrageous campaign last term.
But that's two consecutive games he's set up big goals for Rangers, even if the result didn't go his way against Aberdeen or Ross County.
He's up against a solid opponent in Croatian right-back Juranovic, who was shifted across to left-back for the first derby of the season.
Anthony Ralston kept his place on the right as Greg Taylor suffered a shoulder injury and with Liam Scales signed only days prior Juranovic was chosen at left-back.
This time he should be on his favoured side and while he's dependable on the left it's on the right where he can really show his class.
Kent can come alive at a moment's notice however and we'll be in for a treat down that flank.
Joe Hart vs Allan McGregor
It seems safe to assume Van Bronckhorst isn't one to chuck the baby out with the bathwater.
The chances of derby veteran McGregor being dumped after a couple of clangers up in Dingwall seem remote especially considering the incredible stops he made in this fixture across last term.
But in a 60,000-strong Parkhead cauldron he'll need to keep the head and the same goes for Hart up the other end.
He's capable of some worldies too and is loved by the fans but there have been a few hairy moments when the former England cap has had the ball at his feet.
For all the outfield matchups it could be the performance of one of these two highly decorated goalkeepers that decides the game - and hands one team title race momentum.
