Philippe Clement will be Brendan Rodgers' toughest Rangers test as Celtic manager - that's according to Chris Sutton.
The Celtic hero reckons Rangers have been transformed under the Belgian manager and warned his 'iron fist' leadership approach could see Rodgers put under pressure.
However, having swept aside previous Rangers managers "with ease", Sutton suggested triumph over Rangers - and in doing so ending Clement's unbeaten streak - would send a "big message" in the title race.
In his Daily Record column, Sutton explained: "Brendan Rodgers is facing his biggest-ever Old Firm examination.
"But victory over Philippe Clement’s Rangers will put doubters to bed and reinstall huge Celtic fan belief in their boss. Rodgers disposed of Mark Warburton, Pedro Caixinha, Graeme Murty and Steven Gerrard during his first term at the club and sworded Michael Beale upon his return in a triumphant comeback to the encounter almost three months ago."
He added: "Rodgers has dealt with those previous Rangers managers with, to my mind, some ease. Gerrard won one game against him, but that was it. Beale was never going to get the better of him. Rodgers took half a team to Ibrox in September and still beat him.
"But Clement looks better than those predecessors Rodgers has taken on previously."
Clement is so far 16 games unbeaten as Rangers manager after replacing Michael Beale in the Ibrox dugout.
And heading into Saturday's crucial derby clash the gap at the top of the table is five points - with Rangers having two games in hand.
For Sutton, it puts serious pressure on the contest - even if it won't be solely decisive - and offers equal opportunity to end questions over Rodgers from Celtic supporters and also ask questions of Rangers' title challenge resolve.
Sutton wrote: "Sending Rangers back across the city with Clement’s unbeaten record shattered will issue a big message from Rodgers and his team that they are still the top dogs and won’t be easily shifted."
