Neil Lennon insists Celtic are not putting any extra pressure on Old Firm debut referee Willie Collum ahead of Sunday's much-anticipated derby.
"I would say that refereeing an Old Firm game at any time is difficult but when it is your first one, he might be a wee bit extra nervous," Lennon said.
"I just hope he has a strong game.
"We felt aggrieved at some of the decisions that went against us last year so we hope that he has a good game and makes the right decisions."
Lennon is still disgruntled about referee Dougie McDonald's decision to award Celtic a penalty in last weekend's win over Dundee United at Tannadice, then change his mind after consulting with his assistant.
The Irishman also pointed back to last October when Celtic, under Tony Mowbray, were denied a penalty at Ibrox by Craig Thomson, who later admitted his mistake, and to the effort Marc-Antoine Fortune had controversially ruled out against Rangers in January by Steve Conroy.
Collum will be taking charge of the famous Glasgow derby for the first time.
And the stakes are as a high as ever, with both sides protecting a run of eight wins from eight matches in the Scottish Premier League.
"We are not putting any extra pressure on him, from our point of view," explained Lennon. "We don't want to do that.
"We just hopes that he starts from scratch and sees the game as it is."
After a busy summer of squad rebuilding, Lennon will have several players making their Old Firm debuts.
However, he admits there is little he can say which will prepare them for Sunday lunchtime.
"No matter what words of advice you give them, it can't replicate playing the game and being in that atmosphere and the intensity of that whole arena," he said.
"When I made my debut Martin O'Neill said to me it would be a blur and he was right.
"Nothing prepares you for an Old Firm game, they definitely are a special game in the calendar and there is just a wee bit more riding on this one because of the start both teams have made.
"I enjoyed them as a player, you enjoy them when you win obviously, the flip side of that is if you lose it's not nice.
Outsiders will probably make Rangers the favourites
Neil Lennon
"As a manager I don't think you can enjoy it, I think you feel that sense of relief when it's over.
Despite his side's excellent domestic record and home advantage at the weekend, Lennon claims Rangers, who lead the table on goal difference, will be viewed as favourites.
"Outsiders will probably make Rangers the favourites with the way they have played in Europe as well as the SPL," added Lennon.
"But I don't think there is much between the teams.
"I think they have been very impressive. I think they play more football at times than people give them credit for, they have good individual players and they work hard for each other.
"They have a good mentality which they have developed over last two or three years.
"But we have to concentrate on what we have to do. The onus is on us because we are the home team.
"We have to try and take the game to Rangers at every opportunity we can.
"I don't want to hype the game up too much because other people will do that anyway.
"At the end of the day it's a league game and three points at stake.
"Obviously there is a little more on it with who is going to be at the top of the table at the end of the game but you don't want to fill their heads too much."
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