Celtic have come through a brutal run of road trips unscathed but clash with Well at home could be toughest of lot

The champs may struggle to boss midfield against one of best teams to watch in UK

- CHRIS SUTTON

IT’S taken a few more days than expected but the Celtic and Rangers statement tennis has started.

No doubt there will be plenty of back and forth to come and action must be taken following Sunday's shameful scenes at Ibrox.

Both clubs tiptoed into it all with their releases on Thursday and I'm sure there will be the usual reactions from either side.

I'm not being dismissive but leave me out of it for now - because this is a huge weekend on the pitch.

That's what's getting me excited this weekend. We've got Celtic against Motherwell, then Hearts in action tonight and Rangers tomorrow.

It's potentially a massive few days in the title race.

Martin O'Neill and this patchwork Celtic team deserve enormous credit for coming through such a brutal run of away fixtures unscathed.

Not many would have backed them to go to Stuttgart, Aberdeen and Ibrox twice and reel off three wins and a draw that keeps them in the hunt for the league and in the Scottish Cup.

There's almost been a sense of relief from fans they survived with the season still alive.

But they are far from out of the woods. Because Motherwell today might be the toughest game of the lot.

Stuttgart was a dead rubber after the first leg and Aberdeen are not exactly in great shape.

Coming back from 2-0 down to Rangers in the Premiership game was massive in the context of the title race, and edging Danny Rohl's side out on penalties in the Scottish Cup would have been special.