An Old Firm game does not offer a gentle settling-in period. For McInnes, the challenge is immediate: sharpen Rangers emotionally without letting the occasion pull them out of shape. A cup tie against Celtic can change the mood around a manager very quickly, especially at Ibrox, where the crowd tends to demand front-foot football and conviction.
This is why first impressions matter. A controlled display would do almost as much for belief as the result itself.
The report says both teams arrive in strong domestic form:
That matters because it frames the tie as more than a derby spectacle. Celtic appear to bring stability and rhythm. Rangers seem to bring momentum after an uneven opening spell. In knockout football, those are different strengths, but both are dangerous.
The update says there will be no away supporters after an SPFL ruling. That changes the texture of the day. Old Firm matches are usually split by noise and hostility from both ends; a one-sided stadium alters the emotional flow.
For Rangers, that should mean energy and urgency. It can also bring tension if the game turns. For Celtic, it becomes a test of calm in a stadium that will be fully against them from the first whistle.
Whatever happens, this feels like an early marker in the season. If McInnes can land a first major blow in this rivalry, the mood around Rangers changes fast. If Celtic come through again, the next storyline will be whether anyone can disrupt their domestic authority in the weeks ahead.