Samuel Edu in at the deep end

Rangers manager Walter Smith is prepared to field five players with no previous experience of the unique Old Firm atmosphere when his side travel to Parkhead to face champions Celtic on Sunday.

New signings Pedro Mendes and Madjid Bougherra are certain starters. Kyle Lafferty, should he shake off the hamstring strain which resulted in him missing the 1-1 draw at Pittodrie on Saturday and Northern Ireland's visit to Hampden last midweek, would also expect to be included in the first XI

"He only just missed out on being involved at Aberdeen, so after a few days on the training ground we would be hopeful of having him for this weekend," Smith said.

Lithuanian striker Andrius Velicka is likely to make an appearance from the bench. Smith has also revealed that midfielder Maurice Edu, the United States international who has agreed a £2.6 million move from Toronto FC, would also figure.

The 23-year-old has been granted a work permit by the relevant authorities in the UK, but red tape in Canada has held up his arrival in Glasgow. He is now expected to report for training at Murray Park and, having kept himself active due to the Major League Soccer season being in full swing, Smith would not regard it as a risk to throw Edu in at the deep end.

"We have to wait to see whether we can get him over on time," Smith said. "The good thing is that he has been playing regularly and travelling around the world with the US national team.

"When I first met him he came across as a boy who wouldn't be fazed by a great deal.

"He seems quite a confident lad, so if we can get him over in good time then I have no doubt that he'd be involved at some stage."

Celtic, though, will be without their preferred strike partnership of Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The former is almost certain to be out for several weeks after tearing muscles in his groin while the Dutchman required five stitches in an ankle after an accidental collision with an opposing defender in the 3-0 victory over Falkirk on Saturday.

Neither player has scored this season but their partnership produced 51 goals in the previous campaign and manager Gordon Strachan, who has prodigal son Shaun Maloney and Greek forward Georgios Samaras ready to take their places, will he hoping for a quick return by both.

The Scottish Football Association have confirmed they will extend the transfer deadline until midnight on Monday. The window usually closes on Aug 31 but, because that date falls on a Sunday this year, it was decided to allow clubs an extra 24 hours to sign new players.