Rangers welcome Celtic to Ibrox on Sunday in an Old Firm clash which could have big ramifications for the future of the Scottish Premiership.
Rangers signed Bruno Alves for games like this.
The resurgent Gers host Old Firm rivals Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday and, for the first time since they returned to the top flight in 2016, can be quietly confident of getting a result.
But to do that, they will need a defence that is not too unfamiliar with needless mistakes to be absolutely on top of their game against an in-form Moussa Dembele and the lively Odsonne Edouard.
Needless to say, the 36-year-old Portuguese veteran Alves has not exactly lived up to lofty expectations since arriving on a free from Italian side Cagliari. He has been far from a regular under Graeme Murty either and has not started a league game since December.
But the former Porto, Zenit and Fenerbahce stopper is a man for the big occasion and there is no bigger occasion in Scottish football than Rangers vs Celtic.
So with Russell Martin failing to convince on loan from Norwich City and Rangers’ other centre-backs lacking a bit of experience in crucial encounters, this is the sort of fixture that Alves was made for.
At his best, the Euro 2016 champion is a ferocious competitor willing to throw his body on the line for a win. That is exactly the sort of attitude Rangers probably need when Celtic come to town.
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