Celtic manager Neil Lennon has told his players to forget about next week's Old Firm showdown and keep their focus on Saturday's game with Kilmarnock.
A dip in form earlier this season saw the Hoops fall 12 points behind Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
However a recent resurgence in fortunes has meant Celtic have won their past seven matches to close the gap to just four points going into the Christmas Eve fixtures.
And Lennon has warned his players not to let their good work go to waste by letting their concentration slip against Killie.
"Seven wins in a row is good form but it can go at any time and we have to be wary of that," Lennon said.
"The St Johnstone win last Sunday was important because Rangers had won the day before and we wanted to keep our run going."
Earlier in the season Kilmarnock held a 3-0 half-time lead against the Hoops before a second-half comeback secured a 3-3 draw for Lennon's side.
And the Parkhead boss admitted his side would be need to be wary of the Rugby Park outfit.
"We've done that and there is a positive feeling going into the game against Kilmarnock. They took two points off us at Rugby Park so, again, it's a game we have to be wary of," Lennon said.
"Every game comes up with its own dangers and we have to make sure we don't look too far ahead.
"I don't want my players thinking of the Rangers game yet. We'll take the seven wins in a row and now we want to make it eight on Saturday."
Celtic will be without Daniel Majstorovic for the match after he fractured a cheekbone in the win over St Johnstone. Emilio Izaguirre is back in full training but the match against Kenny Shiels' side may come too soon for the Honduran international.
League leaders Rangers will hope to keep a four point advantage going into the Old Firm clash by defeating St Mirren at New St Mirren Park.
Winger Gregg Wylde admits his side's form has not been great in recent weeks but insists his side are still in a great position to win their fourth SPL title in a row.
"The bottom line is that you would rather be four points in front than four points behind, so we are in a good position at this stage of the season. It is all in our own hands," the Rangers winger said.
"We've got a big game against St Mirren in Paisley on Christmas Eve. They took points off us when we played them at Ibrox a few months back, so I don't think we will need any warning about what they are capable of doing."
Manager Ally McCoist will have winger Sone Aluko available for selection after the end of his two match ban.
Elsewhere, trouble-stricken Hearts, who are yet to pay their players' wages for December, face a tough fixture against third-placed Motherwell at Tynecastle.
Aberdeen are looking to make it three wins in a row when they travel to take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
Bottom of the table Dunfermline face fourth placed St Johnstone, who have lost their past three matches.
New Hibernian boss Pat Fenlon is looking to pick up his first point since his appointment when his side travel to take on Dundee United at Tannadice.
Fixtures (1330 unless otherwise stated)
Saturday
Inverness CT v Aberdeen (1230), St Mirren v Rangers (1245), Hearts v Motherwell (1300), Celtic v Kilmarnock, Dundee United v Hibernian, Dunfermline v St Johnstone
Source: AFP
