Steven Gerrard says Rangers will not let arch-rivals Celtic land a record-equalling ninth consecutive Scottish Premiership title without a fight as the new season gets under way this weekend.
Celtic finished nine points clear of second-placed Rangers last season after turning the title race into a procession once again.
Even the arrival of former Liverpool star Gerrard for his first season at Rangers could not galvanise the Ibrox club enough to put Celtic under serious pressure.
Celtic's dominance of Scottish football is so complete that they have won the domestic treble for the past three seasons.
Champions for the past eight years, only twice since 2011 have Celtic finished fewer than 10 points ahead of the second-placed team in the final table.
If Celtic lift the trophy for a 51st time this season they will equal their own record run of nine straight titles (1966-74) and the run of Rangers (1989-97).
The last genuinely competitive title race came in 2010/11, when Rangers won the most recent of their 54 Scottish crowns after finishing one point above Celtic.
Whether the inexperienced Gerrard is the man to lead Rangers back to the top remains in doubt after they finished his debut season without a trophy.
But ahead of his side's opener at Kilmarnock on Sunday, the 39-year-old is adamant he can cope with the pressure of dethroning Glasgow rivals Celtic.
"I knew what I was facing here when I signed up for it 12 months ago. It will be the same, if not more, this season, but that's what I live for. That's why I get out of bed in the morning," Gerrard told the Sunday Post.
"The day I'm not up to that pressure, when I'm not up for taking on that responsibility, I won't be standing here talking to you."
- Consistency -
===============
"Together we need to find better consistency if we want to challenge Celtic in the league."
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content