GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST insists Rangers are 'not thinking' about asking to postpone the upcoming Old Firm fixture despite international selection concerns.
The champions are scheduled to make the rearranged trip to Parkhead in a fortnight for what could be a defining showdown in the Premiership title race.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou could look to take advantage of League rules that would allow him to request a postponement of the derby due to cap calls for the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Tom Rogic and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Van Bronckhorst will be without playmaker Joe Aribo for the Celtic clash should Nigeria reach the latter stages of the African Cup of Nations in the coming weeks.
And Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and James Sands could all be under consideration for their respective nations ahead of the World Cup qualifiers that will be staged next month.
Van Bronckhorst said: “It’s still a long way to go, the Old Firm. We’re preparing for Aberdeen and the game it’s in two weeks.
"A lot can happen in that period. As far as I’m concerned, we’re not thinking about postponing the fixture.
“We know the international calendar is coming up, we might lose some players as well. But that’s the way it is, we have to take it as it comes.
“In the window, it’s not just one game, there are three games that have to be played in the window. That’s, I think, impossible because of course with bringing the break forward.
“The association also said it was difficult and that there was no space for postponing games so that will make it difficult as well. You never know how you have to prepare for games.
“Rangers had the first Old Firm, they missed their first and second goalie, they missed their coach, some other key players.
"You never know what the situation will be. As a coach, you have to handle every situation and that’s what I’m doing to do when the game comes."
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