THE argument that Celtic versus Rangers doesn’t matter as much these days isn’t borne out by the frenzy that materialises any time the fixture comes around. Celtic fans will continue to insist the concept of the Old Firm has been defunct since Rangers went into liquidation in 2012, spent several years grubbing around in the lower leagues before winning promotion to the top flight last summer. Even the Parkhead club in their official communiques now refer to the match against their deadliest rivals as “the Glasgow derby”, placing it on a par with contests against Partick Thistle and Queen’s Park.

The debate over whether Rangers are legally, historically and financially the same club or not will endure until the cows have come home, had their supper and gone to bed. That will never change. But what is indisputable is that there is a team called Rangers playing out of Ibrox in light blue strips and that the enmity between both sets of supporters is as bitter now as it was prior to Rangers’ financial meltdown five years ago.

The gleeful reaction from the Celtic supporters following the three victories their team has secured over them this season did not suggest these had been achieved against a new, insignificant rival.

Sunday’s draw for the semi-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup means there will be another three of these Glasgow derbies before the season is out. Each will involve the same feverish build-up, be the centre of extensive focus during the 90 minutes, and will produce page upon page of post-match analysis. There will not be a ticket to be had for love nor money.

The first two contests, in particular, will be hugely significant. Celtic are inching ever closer to completing the formalities on their sixth championship in succession and a win over Rangers this Sunday will take them almost to the finish line. The Ibrox side, who could well have a new manager in place by then, would love nothing more than to hand Celtic a first domestic defeat of the campaign.

The second meeting will be that semi-final tie at Hampden next month. Again there will be a special resonance attached to it. Celtic are now just two wins away from completing a first treble since 2001 but must first navigate their way beyond a Rangers team who, lest anyone has forgotten, knocked them out of the same competition at the same stage last season.

The final part of the remaining Old Firm trilogy of matches will take place after the split at Ibrox on an as-yet-to-be-decided date. The league will be won by then and only one side will be looking forward to the Scottish Cup final but, even with little riding on it, it will likely still be as frenetic as before.

Perhaps the biggest difference this time around is that these fixtures are no longer taking place on a level playing field. In 2004/05, the teams shared three victories apiece. It was an era in which there was very little to separate them.

Now, it is a lot easier to label the favourite and the underdog in this battle.

The reality, though, has been something different. Celtic ran out comfortable 5-1 winners in the opening league game, needed a late Moussa Dembele goal to squeeze into the League Cup final, then came from behind to win the league match at Ibrox on Hogmanay.

Now firmly in their stride, Rodgers’ shift will be expected to go on to further asset their dominance over their rivals in the three derbies still to come. The Rangers fans may come to approach these games with a slight sense of dread but the anticipation on both sides will still tingle as before. That is something that will never change.