Rangers legend Kris Boyd refused to be drawn into a tit-for-tat over Celtic and Rangers' Premiership fixtures but insisted Derek McInnes will be under pressure from the first whistle.
The SPFL today unveiled the 2026/27 top-flight calendar with Gers beginning the season on Friday, July 31 at Tannadice and Celts unfurling their 56th league flag at home to Dundee 72 hours later on the Monday night.
Glasgow's big two have three home and away fixtures each before they collide in the first league derby clash of the season at Parkhead on Sunday, September 20.
But Gers legend Boyd avoided taking the bait when asked which side had the easiest run of games building up to the blockbuster Old Firm showdown.
He told Sky Sports News: "To be honest, I'll say it again, you have to play everybody anyway. There's a lot made out about the fixtures in Scotland, especially when the split comes."
"But for me, I think it's fantastic, the excitement there. If your team go and win, you don't really care. But if your team lose, then all of a sudden everybody seems to moan about the fixtures and that."
"But for me, there's an opportunity there for Celtic. They're the champions, they'll be at home in the first game. Then they've got two away games."
"Kilmarnock will be tough, who are returning to grass this season as well. And then they've got St Johnstone - promoted from the Championship - away from home as well. They're all difficult games in their own right."
"The key thing for me between the two of them is always that first home Old Firm game. Celtic have got it this season. If Rangers don't go into that level or above Celtic and then all of a sudden you lose that, the pressure then starts to mount on the managers."
"So I think for me, the first Old Firm game is always key. And Celtic have got home advantage this year."
After Danny Rohl's exit to RB Salzburg, Ibrox chiefs moved swiftly to lure McInnes from Tynecastle just weeks after he almost led Hearts to a historic title triumph.
McInnes - a nine-in-a-row hero during his own playing days in Govan - follows his trusted captain Lawrence Shankland down the M8.
And while his appointment has been largely welcomed by supporters, Boyd insists McInnes will have to deliver results from the very start.
He said: "You're always expected to hit the ground running, that's why he's been selected as the next Rangers manager. You look at the job he's done, Derek has brought stability to more or less every club he's been at. And that's where Rangers are at right now."
"Again, it's the start of a season. Again, they're speaking about a new manager coming into Rangers. It cannot continue. It's happened season after season for the last few years. Rangers have changed their manager."
"But you would like to think with this appointment and all the changes at the football club, obviously with Andrew Cavenagh at the top of that and Jim Gillespie coming in, there'll be stability there now and Rangers will be able to build a team that will challenge Celtic and Hearts going forward."
"When you look at the performances last year, yes, there were some good ones. But I think when you go back to the start of the season and then towards the end of the season, there's a lot of things that need to change at Rangers if they're going to be successful."
