Walter Smith insists Rangers are still playing catch-up with Celtic despite a six-point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Saturday's Old Firm triumph at Ibrox means Rangers are now red-hot favourites to win the title, despite facing two tussles at Parkhead before the end of the season.

But, as champions for the last two seasons, Smith believes Celtic are still the benchmark and admits Gordon Strachan's men could yet prove to be a tough act to follow.

"We've not caught them up yet," said the Gers boss.

"Celtic are the team that have won the league - they supply us with the motivation to try to win the championship.

"They are the champions, and we are the challengers until the league championship is decided. And it may be that we are the challengers again next season.

"We have tough games between now and the end of the season and Celtic are our yardstick - they have shown the consistency and the winning mentality over the last couple of seasons, and we know that we have to copy that.

"It is role-reversal for me - the last time I was here we were always on top and Celtic were trying to catch us, but now it's the other way round, so we have to work very hard."

Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, Christian Dailly and Allan McGregor all started against Celtic despite being forced to withdraw from Scotland's friendly against Croatia in midweek.

But former Scotland boss Smith insisted: "If our boys had been fit, they'd have been there. The boys' injuries were legitimate.

"Rangers will not withdraw any player from a competitive game.

"But, if players go to a Scotland set-up and they are shown to be injured, then it is only right, for a friendly game, that George Burley sends them back.

"That's what happened the other night.

"If a Rangers player misses any other games - and certainly if it's a World Cup match - then it is because he is injured."

Dailly, in particular, has been a loyal servant for Scotland and he was disappointed to miss Burley's first match in charge after scans revealed he has a broken toe.

"It was a shame the Scotland thing was this week," he said.

"I don't like to say I've got an injury but because of the Scotland game they had to know.

"I've been playing for Scotland at all levels for 20 years since I was 14 and I've never pulled out of a squad, but it's a policy the SFA have.

"I had an X-ray last week and my toe was broken. In those circumstances Scotland just don't take you and it's the same with the boys we've had injured.

"They were all told there was no point in going. It was a completely sensible course of action for everyone - it was common sense."

Dailly was in inspirational form against Celtic, despite needing painkillers to see him through his Old Firm debut, and insists the famous fixture more than lived up to its reputation.

He said: "It's a great experience, even for someone like me who has played a number of games in my career.

"You're not going to get much better than that - it was an all round good day.

"Fergie and the boys in the squad go on about it all the time and it was everything they said it was. To win makes it all the more special."

More news from SportingLife.com