Celtic are preparing for the biggest game of their league season, where they have the chance to all but wrap up the Premiership crown against Rangers on Saturday.
The Hoops have been the underdogs going into every derby this season, but heading into the final league encounter against their Ibrox adversaries, Brendan Rodgers' side look to have the advantage both on and off the field.
Celtic have been consistent over the last few weeks, picking up wins when they haven't been at their best, whilst Rangers have dropped points twice since the two sides last met at Ibrox on 7th April.
Brendan Rodgers may also feel that he has a psychological advantage given that Philippe Clement took the bait on his "fun" quip following his side's victory over Hearts on Saturday. Rodgers went on to speak highly of the strong mentality his side possesses, with this current Celtic group being made up of players who knows what it takes to win trophies.
The Hoops will need to rely on their experienced players on Saturday, but will also be looking for new stars to announce themselves in the derby, much like loanees Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah who have already made an impact against Rangers this season.
Everyone needs to step up and be on the top of their game with the margin for error incredibly slim, and here are A Celtic State of Mind's key players for this weekend's titanic tussle at Parkhead:
Cameron Carter-Vickers
The American is the best defender at the club by some distance, and in the fixture against our strongest opponent we need Cameron Carter-Vickers to perform at the level he has shown nearly all season.
Carter-Vickers had an uncharacteristically poor game in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park, but we have not experienced such a performance from him in all his encounters against Rangers and would expect him to be at his imperious best on Saturday.
James Forrest
The experienced winger is currently the in-form player at the club as he undergoes something of a career renaissance.
Brendan Rodgers described James Forrest as his best winger back in March, and the 32-year-old has been rolling back the years over the last few weeks.
His impact started in the Scottish Cup, and it has carried over to the league with his brace at Dens Park proving decisive. Despite not scoring against Hearts, he was still one of the best players in green and white on the park, and Celtic need to see that same quality in the biggest test for Forrest yet - Saturday's derby.
Is this just a purple patch or is Forrest really back? We will find out on Saturday.
Kyogo Furuhashi
Celtic have turned to Kyogo Furuhashi to be their saviour against Rangers time and time again, and the Japanese forward just keeps on scoring in the biggest fixture of the Scottish football calendar.
He scored seven times against Rangers in 2023, but is yet to add to that in 2024. The stage is set, then, for Kyogo to open his account against our league challengers this year.
For much of this campaign, Kyogo has been starved of the service that made him Celtic's top goalscorer two seasons running, but if Matt O'Riley and Reo Hatate are able to thread balls through like they did against Hearts last weekend, no one would bet against our talisman getting his name on the scoresheet at Celtic Park this Saturday.
James McKenzie // @JamesWHMcKenzie