The Old Firm Derby returns to the Scottish top flight this Saturday and it’s got all the makings of an absolute classic.

Indeed, both sets of fans have been waiting for this fixture ever since Rangers’ financial troubles saw them drop all the way down to the third division in 2012.

In many ways, this game has been four years in the making, as two clubs divided along political, religious and historical lines finally meet each other in the league once again.

In theory, Celtic enter this fixture as the favourites; they’re currently top of the Scottish Premiership and boast home advantage.

But Mark Warburton has assembled an exciting squad at Rangers and when it comes to the Old Firm Derby, all bets are off – it’s a fixture that almost has its own set of rules.

With that in mind, Saturday’s scoreline could well come down to who dominates the individual battles, so we’ve picked out three that could decide the Old Firm Derby….

KENNY MILLER VS KOLO TOURE

With Kenny Miller and Kolo Toure both well into their 30s, this battle will be a case of mind over body.

Indeed, Miller’s always compensated for a lack of natural athleticism with intelligence around the box, but Toure’s got the vast experience to counteract that, plying his trade with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool before moving to Celtic Park.

That being said, the Rangers striker has already netted twice this season, whilst the Hoops aren’t the strongest defensively – conceding four times in three games thus far.

Kieran Tierney vs James Tavernier

They say full-back is now one of the most important positions on the pitch, evolving into a role that requires fantastic stamina, defensive awareness and contribution going forward in equal measure.

With that in mind, the Old Firm Derby could well be decided by Kieran Tierney and James Tavernier, Celtic’s left-back and Rangers’ right-back respectively.

Both like to overlap and get involved at the other end (Tavernier scored 15 times last season), so this battle could come down to who balances their defensive and offensive duties best.

Scott Brown vs Joey Barton

A straight-up skirmish of who can be nastier without getting sent off, the midfield battle between Scott Brown and Joey Barton epitomises the Old Firm Derby.

The two have already partook in some media trash-talk so expect stud-raised shin-shattering tackles aplenty in the middle of the park.

That being said, neither Barton nor Brown are simply thugs; the Celtic captain has a knack for popping up with a goal from midfield, whilst Rangers’ summer signing has the intelligence and passing range to control the game via the ball.