IF, as I suspect, Hearts’ bid for the league title has been undermined by injury, Rangers will claim the championship.
And for one, straightforward reason. They are everything Celtic are not as the balance of power undergoes a notable shift in Glasgow.
Rangers orchestrated a theatrical unveiling of three new signings last weekend in what could be described as a statement photograph taken inside Ibrox.
Two permanent additions, Tuur Rommens and Tochi Chukwuani, alongside a loanee brought to Rangers with an option to buy, Andreas Skov Olsen, were presented to supporters ahead of a Scottish Cup tie against Annan Athletic.
It was, in my view, a carefully stage-managed and entirely legitimate ploy to underline the fact Rangers are now financially equipped to flex their muscles in the transfer market.
And, by implication, a piece of touchline theatre designed to emphasise that the team across the city were enduring their customary transfer-window turmoil.
Watching events unfold from the main stand was Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh, who had flown in from Pennsylvania to see his side face the fourth-worst team in the SPFL.
It was a display of boardroom unity at a time when every Celtic match is accompanied by supporter protests and chants aimed at those running the club, much to the frustration of the fanbase.
Will Dermot Desmond, Celtic’s principal shareholder, be at Tynecastle on Sunday for the most significant league fixture of the season against the Premiership leaders?
It would be out of character if he were.
The trio in the statement photograph, meanwhile, were recruited by a scouting operation that includes, alongside head coach Danny Rohl, technical director Dan Purdy and recently appointed consultant Stig Inge Bjornebye, who has now relocated to Glasgow.
Celtic’s search for new players is overseen by Martin O’Neill and Sean Maloney after they have finished their primary duties, which involve coaching the first team. Rohl inherited a Rangers side that had managed only one win from their opening eight league matches under Russell Martin, but they have since recorded 11 victories in their last 14 league games following his departure.
One factor behind that turnaround is credited to the work of set-piece coach Scott Fry. Celtic do not employ a set-piece coach.
Club officials and supporters’ groups last week reached agreement on a redevelopment of sections of Ibrox after discussions between the parties.
Celtic have still to enter conciliation and arbitration talks with the banned Green Brigade supporters’ group, who remain excluded from all home fixtures.
Do I make myself clear?
After years of ridiculing Rangers for what seemed an endless supply of farce at Ibrox, from the metal consignment once lost at sea to boardroom manoeuvring that bred internal conflict, the picture is now plainly different.
If Rohl’s team defeat Dundee at home on Sunday, they could plausibly overtake Celtic in the league standings and reinforce the belief that, against all odds and expectations, they are genuine title contenders.
Rohl is Rangers’ permanent head coach. O’Neill is in interim charge at Celtic and has already ruled himself out of remaining in a managerial role next season.
Who succeeds him is anyone’s guess. And that uncertainty likely extends to those in the boardroom.
Rangers are out of Europe for this campaign despite beating Ludogrets on Thursday. Celtic still have an outside chance of progressing when they host Utrecht this week.
But there is only one prize that truly matters to both sets of supporters, and Sunday has the potential to send a clear signal about who currently rules Glasgow in the race for domestic dominance.