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Page last updated at 23:05 GMT, Friday, 10 July 2009 00:05 UK

Miller rekindles Old Firm rivalry

Bob Malcolm, Craig Moore, Charlie Miller and Billy Dodds enjoy a break from training
Malcolm, Moore, Miller and Dodds are preparing for Celtic's visit

Former Rangers midfielder Charlie Miller hopes to get one over old rivals Celtic when he lines up against the Glasgow side for Brisbane Roar.

Miller will use the pre-season fixture to prove his fitness to Brisbane boss Frank Farina, but this is a game that he will relish for other reasons.

"I want to win this game 100%," he said. "I never like to lose against Celtic, but I'm glad they're coming.

"It's great to see them here and it'll be a great match."

Former Rangers defender Craig Moore and Bob Malcolm will also be in the Roar line-up against Celtic, the latter having just secured a contract after being released by Motherwell.

And former Rangers striker Billy Dodds, now part of the backroom team at Queen of the South, has been helping the side prepare for the weekend fixture as part of his coaching qualifications.

That all adds spice to the match and reminds Miller of Old Firm derbies, the rivalry at which he described to his new audience as "a million times stronger" than that between Australia and New Zealand.

As pre-season games go, they don't get much bigger than this

Brisbane Roar coach Frank Farina

"The days I played at Rangers it was great to beat them, so I definitely want to beat them this weekend as well," the 33-year-old said.

The Translink Cup match might be a long way from an Old Firm derby, but Miller insists his desire to win is just the same.

"When I was younger, I would be nervous and really wanting to win," he said.

"I'm a bit older now. I'm just going to look forward to it."

Moore shared Miller's enthusiasm and agreed the spectacle would be one to savour.

"It's a good opportunity for the Australian public to come out and see a very good side. I was talking about Brisbane Roar there as well," he quipped.

Farina said the game would be good preparation for the new A-League season, which starts in less than a month.

"As pre-season games go, they don't get much bigger than this," Farina said.

"It's a good stage for them to step up and hopefully continue in the footsteps of the other young players that have come through."

It will be Tony Mowbray's first game as Celtic manager and assistant Mark Venus said they were relishing the opportunity to have a proper look at the squad they inherited from Gordon Strachan.

"In Australia you will see the boys getting some minutes under their belt in a hard game," he said.

"We don't want to push them too hard, but they will be given the chance to improve their fitness.

"As the weeks go on, I also expect a lot of the younger boys to be given a chance because we have a lot of games coming up. That will give us a chance to assess them in a game situation."



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see also
Malcolm completes move Down Under
31 Jul 09 |  Motherwell


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