Source: Team_Talk
Lafferty in contention for derby
The Light Blues received an immediate boost on Tuesday when the Scottish Premier League announced the May 9 date, as it ended fears Madjid Bougherra would be suspended, and Rangers could benefit further as the extra week has given Lafferty a chance of making the game.
The 21-year-old was told to expect a six-week lay-off after suffering ankle ligament damage during the 2-2 draw with Hearts on March 21.
That would put him in line for a comeback in the second week of May and the club's official website confirmed the Northern Ireland international could make a derby return.
While the date confirmed Celtic midfielder Scott Brown will be suspended, Algeria defender Bougherra will have served his one-match ban the previous weekend.
And Rangers hope to have available most of the seven players who missed Saturday's 3-1 victory over Motherwell through injury.
Sasa Papac is hopeful of recovering from an ankle wound in time to face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday, while DaMarcus Beasley is likely to return from a rib injury for the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren the following weekend.
Lee McCulloch is making good progress in his fight to overcome a calf problem and could also play at Hampden.
Lafferty could make it four but there is no timescale on the progress of Kenny Miller (hamstring) and Kirk Broadfoot (foot).
Kevin Thomson (knee) is out for the season while the futures of skipper Barry Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor remain unclear as they enter the final few days of their two-week club suspension.
The SPL settled on the Saturday fixture date following consultations with both clubs' security chiefs and Strathclyde Police.
The Ibrox clash - which will kick off at 12.30pm - could be a title decider if Celtic win their next two games and Rangers lose both matches.
The fixture was expected to take place immediately after the league split on the weekend of May 2/3.
But it is understood police were reluctant for the game to be played then because of fears over bank holiday violence.
Sunday, May 10 was also ruled out as that is the date of the Glasgow Women's 10k, with the finishing line just a few hundred yards from Ibrox and 12,000 runners expected to take part.
Rangers 4/6, Draw 13/5, Hibernian 9/2
