Willie Collum is the sensible choice to run the rule over the Old Firm derby on Sunday according to former refs Des Roache and Steve Conroy.
Collum was appointed for the decisive clash between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox ahead of the likes of John Beaton and Bobby Madden.
The 43-year-old is one of the most experienced whistlers in the country but is one of many who have come under fire for contentious decisions this season.
However former grade 1 referees Roache and Conroy reckon Collum was the right choice to take charge of the massive derby that will have huge bearing on the fate of the Premiership title.
Roache told the Get Involved Referee podcast : "I think with the game at this stage of the season, with it being so close, and potentially being a title decider, you can't take any risks.
"Willie has been there for a number of years, he's taken this game on board I couldn't tell you how many times, but it's certainly a few.
"I think tellingly, he has not been around the Old Firm for the past couple of weeks, so it may have been there they were taking him out of the limelight, taking him away from any potential controversy and obviously allowing him to take the match this weekend."
And he reckons Collum is like a player "in-form" with Beaton, Madden and Nick Walsh all under the microscope recently.
He added: "At the top end in elite refereeing within our own country, we only really have four candidates that can do this match, so you've really got to manage it.
"It’s like a player, you are looking form someone who’s in form.
"There was controversy recently around John Beaton at the Dundee United-Celtic game and Bobby (Madden) at the Dundee-Rangers game, I think it would potentially would be flared up.
"Willie just floating along, young Nick Walsh, his time will come. He's already done one... so he may be trusted with one later on this year.
"I think Willie is the correct appointment for this match."
Conroy agreed as he said: "He is the most experienced guy we’ve got so none of this is going to come as any surprise to him. He knows how to handle it.
"He’s had a couple of maybe debatable decisions that he's made of late but I certainly think he won’t be over-awed so it won’t get away from him.
"With it being potentially so explosive and so important I think it had to be somebody of Willie’s ilk to handle this one.
"I don’t think that anybody can say that Willie will shirk any big decisions if he sees it whether it’s the first second or the last second, he'll call it as he needs. That's in absolutely no doubt."
