The last week or so, Celtic’s music has improved a little, and with the big match against Rangers tomorrow lunchtime approaching, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Going into what could be a crucial game in the context of the title race, the champions have won their last two, kept two clean sheets, and kept Rangers five points behind them despite having two games remaining.

The Green Brigade are back in the stadium, Kyogo Furuhashi is back among the goals, and a victory would undoubtedly win over even his most ardent detractors for Brendan Rodgers.

Here are five things his Celtics team needs to do to defeat their city rivals and record their second victory of the year.

Play Luis Palma on the right and Daizen Maeda on the left.

Although Celtics manager Brendan Rodgers has made hints that Liel Abada might return for this match, it would be a big decision to start him right away following such a lengthy absence.

Despite Mikey Johnston’s two goals at Dens Park on Boxing Day, it is much more likely that Rodgers will start with Maeda and Palma in wide areas once again. Which side he decides to use them on is the only thing that really remains to be seen.

Maeda hasn’t played his best in the two games he has started since his own injury return, but he could be very important against the Rangers right-wing threat James Tavernier. His willingness to run in behind the Rangers captain and his ability to press him might be crucial in reducing or even eliminating his threat.

Maeda and Palma combined for the latter’s incredible goal against Atletico Madrid, demonstrating that they are more than capable of causing problems for any opposition if deployed in such a way. Rodgers has, to put it mildly, rarely used such a set-up.

Reach the byline to give Kyogo what he needs.

In keeping with the first point, Palma’s move to the right should inherently motivate him to strike the chalk and get the kind of crosses into the Rangers zone that Kyogo loves.

Indeed, he did set up the striker’s goal against Livingston by cutting inside and curling the ball toward the far post, but Kyogo is more effective when there are cutbacks and the kind of service that hasn’t been plentiful this year.

Even though he has had inconsistent play this season, Kyogo has a very strong recent record against Rangers. His incredible goal at Ibrox in early September made it five goals in his previous meetings with the team, so Celtic needs to do everything in their power to capitalize on that tomorrow.

Rule the midfield once more.

It is possible that Phillipe Clement, unlike his predecessor Michael Beale, has not been paying much attention to the fact that Callum McGregor is a respectable football player.

In their first encounter, the Celtic captain was allowed full rein at Ibrox. This time around, it’s likely that Clement will give Dujon Sterling a briefing to get close to McGregor in an effort to have less of an impact on the match.

Even with Reo Hatate still out (Rodgers has said he is unlikely to start even after returning to full training), Celtic should still have no trouble controlling the middle of the park.

In that area, McGregor, the imposing Matt O’Riley, and Paolo Bernardo will probably face off against Sterling, Kieran Dowell, and Todd Cantwell. If they can maintain their dominance, that will give them the advantage to win the match.

Disprove Abdallah Sima

With his quickness, strength, and direct running, the Rangers wide player poses a serious threat from the left side of the Ibrox attack and has been in excellent form thus far this season.

He will face Alistair Johnston, who has been perceived to have performed at a lower level so far this campaign than last.

The Canadian international has proven in the past that he is more than capable of attaining such levels and enduring the pressure of these matches, so Celtic will need a tremendous showing from him to neutralize Sima’s threat. He needs to repeat this.

Hope Cameron Carter-Vickers is well.

It is not a slight on Celtic’s ample center-back reserves to suggest that Carter-Vickers’ probable absence would make it less likely for his team to win this match.

The problem that forced Carter-Vickers off at Dens Park on Boxing Day was minimized by Rodgers as “tightness.” Though Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers will surely fancy his chances to trouble a Celtic defense without the imposing American international, Stephen Welsh would probably be the one to step into the breach and has seldom let Celtic down.