Will Old Firm derby prove key in SWPL title race?

Natasha Flint put Celtic in front at Ibrox in the previous meeting between the sides before Mia McAulay bagged the equaliser

The SWPL split is here and the countdown is on with 10 games to go in the title race - but this weekend's Old Firm derby could be the most decisive of the lot.

Jo Potter's table-topping Ibrox side can stretch their lead over biggest rivals to seven points with victory - making it a long way back for Celtic considering treble-chasing Rangers are still unbeaten in all competitions and have won 19 of league 22 games.

If Celtic emerge victorious, though, the gap will be slashed to just one point and the three-way flag race - Glasgow City are still firmly in the mix - will be wide open.

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'Momentum' with Celtic as Rangers welcome the pressure

Fuelled by a sparkling run of form and with home advantage, Sunday could be Celtic's best chance of inflicting their biggest rivals' first defeat.

Celtic have found their groove after a difficult start under Elena Sadiku, whose tenure began in January with an SWPL Cup loss to Rangers and league defeat by City.

"As a team we now understand Elena better, what she expects and with that the performances have only got better and the momentum is definitely with us," defender Hayes said.

"You always want to play in the big games and it doesn't get bigger than this."

While Celtic defeated Rangers to lift the Scottish Cup last season, it is the Ibrox side who have held sway in league meetings, going unbeaten in the last four and suffering just one defeat in nine.

This season, Potter's team have won two out of the three Old Firm derbies in league and cup. The most recent was at Ibrox last month where Celtic led through Natasha Flint before substitute Mia McAuley salvaged a point for the hosts.

Sadiku is taking plenty of positives from that showing, saying: "Our second-half performance at Ibrox was something we are proud of.

"After the game you could see who was the happiest about the point and I can tell you, it was not Celtic. I think we can give even more, and hopefully we can do it on Sunday."

Rangers head coach Jo Potter has two wins and draw so far against Celtic

But Rangers have put themselves in an enviable position at the top and won't be unseated easily.

Potter has made an impressive impact since taking the reins last summer and has already earned a contract extension through to summer 2026. A clean sweep in her debut campaign remains on with Rangers facing Partick Thistle in the SWPL Cup final on 24 March and Celtic in the Scottish Cup semis next month.

"What Jo has brought from the start is the togetherness within the squad," said captain Nicola Docherty.

"We know what it takes, I have been here before and won titles before. We have a great squad going into the split and hopefully that can continue."

Potter acknowledged the pressure on Rangers to keep winning, saying: "We trying to be so consistent and hold our standards really high no matter who we play.

"That's been key for us this year. Yes the pressure does build, you can see it in some of the players sometimes. That's down to me to recognise that and just take it off them a little bit and try and re-focus on what we're trying to do."

Former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay says Sunday's game is too difficult to call.

"The last one could have gone either way and ended up in a draw," she told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They are both coming off healthy Scottish Cup victories so it's going to be really interesting.

"Most of the games this season have been exceptionally tight, both are playing really nice attacking football and the goals scored have often come down to defensive mistakes or a refereeing decision going the wrong way."

'Expect the unexpected' - City ready to pounce

Glasgow City fans will be watching the derby with interest. Leanne Ross' reigning champions sit third, level on points with Celtic and four behind Rangers.

With second place also securing Champions League football, the stakes are high.

City travel to fourth-place Hearts earlier on Sunday, giving them the chance to leapfrog Celtic and close in on Rangers before the derby is settled.

Last season's final-day drama - when City deprived Celtic of the title with an injury-time winner against Rangers - is strong in the memory of midfielder Jo Love, who knows anything can happen in this league.

"We at least want to be competing for European football next season but we don't like to look to far ahead of us," said Love.

"We know what happened last season with the ups and downs and us winning it in the last minute of the league. So expect the unexpected."