Martin O'Neill is preparing for what he expects will be his final Old Firm derby, and the Celtic interim manager is determined to make it count. With the Scottish Premiership title race heating up, every point matters—and O'Neill is banking on his squad's hunger to keep their championship hopes alive.

Sunday's clash at Celtic Park marks O'Neill's first derby at the stadium in 21 years, and he's got a major boost ahead of kickoff. Influential forward Daizen Maeda has been declared fit after picking up a knock in last weekend's victory over Hibernian. The Japanese star, who scored four goals in his last three matches, limped off holding his boot after the 2-1 win, but O'Neill confirmed he's back in training without any reaction. "He's fine, which is really, really good," O'Neill said. "He's had a super couple of weeks."

The defending champions sit three points behind league leaders Hearts, who face Motherwell on Saturday and hold a superior goal difference. With just three games remaining, Celtic are in unfamiliar territory. Having won the title in 13 of the past 14 seasons, O'Neill believes the fear of losing their crown is fueling his players' determination. "It's not a position that the football club has found itself in in recent years," the 74-year-old admitted. "Generally speaking, they've gone clear and there's been no opposition. There's been plenty of opposition this year, not just from Rangers but obviously from Hearts. So it is a big, big change. You have to get used to it. You've been chasing, you have to keep chasing."

O'Neill's record against Rangers this season is impressive—unbeaten in three meetings, with wins in both cup competitions after extra time and a league draw at Ibrox. During his first stint at Celtic between 2000 and 2005, he dominated the derby, winning 16, drawing three, and losing just eight. Meanwhile, Celtic are riding a four-game winning streak in the league, while Rangers have stumbled, losing their last two matches to fall off the pace. However, Rangers did claim victory on their last visit to Celtic Park in January, so O'Neill knows his side can't afford any complacency.

With the title race going down to the wire, this Old Firm derby promises to be a thriller. For O'Neill, it's a chance to go out on a high—and keep Celtic's championship dream alive.