O'Neill was drafted in after Brendan Rodgers resigned on Monday with his team behind Heart of Midlothian in the league table, having missed out on Champions League football, and amid protests against the Celtic board over a disappointing summer transfer window.

"This is a big game for us," O'Neill said. "Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's a big match for us.

"Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, but particularly given the circumstances of the recent days, if not weeks, absolutely."

In his first spell, O'Neill won 16 of his 27 Old Firm fixtures, drawing three and losing eight.

However, there was just one victory from his four previous Hampden meetings with Rangers and there was just one League Cup success over his initial five-year stint at Celtic Park.

Asked about his derby memories, O'Neill recalled: "Just a nervousness for about 72 hours before and then, if you got the result, a great relief."

When asked if he felt different this time around, he said: "Absolutely not. No, no, worse."

O'Neill recalled that his first derby came after "five or six games" in charge, while Sunday...