The SWPL split is here, and with just 10 games left in the title race, the countdown begins. However, this weekend’s Old Firm derby could prove to be the most crucial of them all.

Cheap Rangers football shirts travel to the Excelsior Stadium on Sunday for the penultimate league meeting between the teams and, as Celtic’s Caitlin Hayes says, “it doesn’t get any bigger than this”.

Jo Potter’s table-topping Ibrox side can extend their lead over their main rivals to seven points with a win – making it a long road back for Celtic given that treble-winning Rangers are still unbeaten in all competitions and have won 19 of the league’s 22 games.

However, if Celtic win, the gap will be reduced to just one point and the three-way flag race – Glasgow City are still in the mix – will be wide open.

‘Momentum’ at Celtic and Rangers welcome the pressure

With a sparkling run of form and home advantage, Sunday could be Celtic’s best chance to inflict their first defeat on their biggest rivals.

Celtic have found their feet after a difficult start under Elena Sadiku, whose tenure began in January with a SWPL Cup loss to Rangers and a league defeat to 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,” said defender Hayes.

“You always want to play in the big games and it doesn’t get any bigger than this.”

While Celtic defeated Rangers and won the Scottish Cup last season, it is the Ibrox team that has held sway in the league meetings, going unbeaten in the last four and suffering just one loss in nine.

This season the Potters have won two of the three Old Firm derbies in the league and cup. The most recent was at Ibrox last month where Celtic led through Cheap Natasha Flint Women’s Football Jerseys before substitute Mia McAuley rescued a point for the hosts.

Sadiku takes a lot of positives from that performance, saying: “Our second half at Ibrox was something we’re proud of.

“After the game you could see who was happiest with the point and I can tell you it wasn’t Celtic. I think we can give even more, and hopefully we can do that on Sunday.”

However, Rangers have put themselves in an enviable position at the top and will not be dislodged easily.

Potter has made an impressive impression since taking over last summer and has already earned a contract extension until the summer of 2026. Rangers now face Partick Thistle in the SWPL Cup final on March 24 and Cheap Celtic Football Jerseys the Scottish Cup semi-final next month.

“What Jo has brought from the start is the cohesion within the squad,” said captain Nicola Docherty.

“We know what it takes, I’ve been here before and won titles before. We have a good squad going into the split and hopefully that can continue.”

Potter acknowledged the pressure on Rangers to keep winning and said: “We try to be so consistent and keep our standards really high no matter who we play against.

“That’s been the key for us this year. Yes, the pressure builds up, you can see it in some of the players sometimes. It’s up to me to realize that and just take it away from them a little bit and try to focus on what we’re trying to do.”

Former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay says Sunday’s game is too hard to call.

“The last game could have gone either way and ended in a draw,” she says.

“They are both coming off wins in the Scottish Cup so it will be really interesting.

“Most of the games this season have been exceptionally even, both are playing really good attacking football and the goals scored have often been due to defensive mistakes or a refereeing decision going the wrong way.”

“Expect the unexpected” – City ready to strike!

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

As second place also brings Champions League football, the stakes are high.

City travel to fourth-placed Hearts earlier on Sunday, giving them the chance to overtake Celtic and close in on Rangers before the derby is decided.

Last season’s final-day drama – when City robbed Celtic of the title with an injury-time winner against Rangers – is fresh in the mind of midfielder Jo Love, who knows that anything can happen in this league.

“We want to at least compete for European football next season, but we don’t want to look too far ahead,” says Love.

“Given what happened last season with its ups and downs, and our last-minute win in the league, we expect the unexpected.”