Speaking for the first time about the two fixture 'models' unveiled earlier this week, to be imposed in the event of either outcome of the Ibrox club's semi-final against Fiorentina next Thursday, Smith delivered a withering assessment of both the SPL and Lawwell.

The Rangers manager believes Lawwell is being disingenuous in stating his opposition to an extension to the season is on the grounds of "sporting integrity". Smith insists the Celtic CEO should simply admit he is seeking to gain an advantage for his club in the title race which reaches a potentially pivotal stage with tomorrow's final Old Firm game of the season at Parkhead.

It is the second meeting of the great rivals at the ground in 11 days, and Smith also feels the scheduling of the Old Firm fixtures has seen the SPL favour Celtic's wishes about when they should take place.

"It's the kind of thing that managers don't normally get involved in but, from my own point of view, it has a direct effect on my job in this instance," said Smith.

"The sporting integrity comments actually gave me a good laugh. Peter Lawwell seems to be the person who is the head of the sporting integrity committee of the SPL, its chairman and chief spokesman.

"Peter would be better coming out and saying he wants Rangers to play four games in a week because it suits his team and helps their quest to retain the championship. If it was the other way around, I would be hoping Celtic would have to play four games in a week.

"So he is as well coming out and being honest about it, rather than trying to hide behind what he is calling 'sporting integrity'. In sport, we have to win. He is doing what he feels is the right thing for his club, by saying the season shouldn't be extended, but he is doing it for his own reasons. He is not doing it for 'sporting integrity', he is not doing it for the league. The thing that bothers me most about it is that the SPL has acceded to every request that has been made by Celtic this season, especially in the placing of the two Old Firm games we are having at the moment.

"It is no co-incidence that we are playing one of our biggest league games of the season at a period of time when they would have a fair idea that we would be between two very important Uefa Cup semi-final games.

"The SPL had the option of placing these last two Old Firm games at other times, but in the end have agreed to Celtic's requests. They are being played at the times, from Celtic's point of view, when it is the best time to play them. There were several other dates when they could have been played.

"When you take that into consideration, I would have thought they could maybe have given Rangers a bit of dispensation at the end of the season, even to play one of our outstanding league games between the last round of scheduled SPL fixtures (on 18 May) and the Scottish Cup final on 24 May).

"That would have meant us playing every midweek, rather than playing four games in one week as we are being forced to do. To me it is a reasonably simple thing just to extend the season. They may think I'm being a bit naive, but if we are helping raise the profile of Scottish football and improving the co-efficient which gives us European places, then should we not get a wee bit of help when it's necessary?"

If Rangers reach the Uefa Cup final on 14 May, they will then play league games against Motherwell (17 May), St Mirren (20 May) and Aberdeen (22 May) before the Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South. Should they lose to Fiorentina, they will play their final four SPL games against Dundee United (10 May), St Mirren (13 May), Motherwell (15 May) and Aberdeen (18 May) ahead of the Hampden showpiece.

"The SPL haven't really made any decision, in the sense that if we reach the Uefa Cup final it is physically impossible for us to play our remaining league games in the time we had left," added Smith. "So they had no alternative but to extend the season.

"What they have done with the other scenario is that we are being forced to play four games in eight days if we don't reach the Uefa Cup final. We accept we have to do that, but is it right from the SPL's point of view that they force a club to do that? I don't think it is, regardless of which team it is.

"For me, the SPL have opted out of making a decision which would help a club who in many ways are lifting the profile of Scottish football.

"Everyone was crying out for a closer league this season to raise the interest level. So when we get to this stage, we have to ask if it is fair one team is being forced to play four games in one week. Over the piece, I feel my own club have been treated a wee bit unfairly in terms of the overall decisions that have to be made in terms of placement of games."

Rangers camp insist that bust-up at Parkhead will be forgotten this time

FEW people would envy Craig Thomson his afternoon's work at Celtic Park tomorrow as he prepares to referee a final Old Firm fixture of the season which appears to have the potential for several scores to be settled.

The combustible finale to the last meeting of the teams just ten days ago, when Celtic's dramatic stoppage-time winner preceded animated clashes between several opposing players on the full-time whistle, has left an impression of simmering resentment hanging over this weekend's showdown in the minds of many observers.

Rangers manager Walter Smith, however, does not subscribe to the view that the fall-out from round one at Parkhead will have any significant bearing on the action when Thomson blows his whistle to begin round two.

"If the last game had petered out at 1-1, you wouldn't have had anything like what happened at full-time," observed Smith. "Celtic scored a goal in the last minute and everyone gets pumped up. There was disappointment from a Rangers point of view, elation from a Celtic point of view and that's a kind of heady mix at an Old Firm game.

"I've been involved in things like that before, it happens, and I don't think it has any real effect on the next Old Firm game. The last one was just a typical Old Firm game. We had reached the stage where it was win or bust for one of the teams and Celtic definitely had an edge in the game, especially in the first half. They were showing that desire and we know that's what it will be like on Sunday. We have to be prepared for that."

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson, who was rested for last Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone and then sat out Thursday night's Uefa Cup semi-final, first leg against Fiorentina at Ibrox because of suspension, will return for Smith's team tomorrow but they remain some way short of full strength.

Kevin Thomson misses out because of suspension, as does Carlos Cuellar with the Spanish central defender serving the automatic one-match ban he incurred when punching Shunsuke Nakamura's netbound shot over the crossbar during the 2-1 defeat at Parkhead.

Christian Dailly will move back to partner David Weir in central defence, with the resources available to Smith now being tested to the full. He is confident fatigue will not play a part, though, and is banking on his players to retain the powerful frame of mind which has so far sustained their bid to win four trophies this season.

"The big games help you overcome it," he said. "It's not really physical, it's a mental thing. The boys all know the importance of the game on Sunday, so I don't think tiredness is a factor. I just hope we can continue to show the mental strength that we have shown in recent matches."

Neil Alexander, thrown into the previous Celtic Park fixture in dramatic circumstances when first-choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor limped off with the injury which may have ended his season, is preparing for a second major test in the space of four days after keeping a potentially crucial clean sheet on his European debut against Fiorentina.

"It's been a hell of a period for me," said the Scotland squad goalkeeper. "Thursday night was probably the most important clean sheet of my career so far and hopefully it has given the team a chance to reach the Uefa Cup final.