Smith has urged other SPL clubs to do their talking on the pitch
Rangers manager Walter Smith says other clubs with designs on ending the Old Firm's domination of Scottish football must back up their words with action.
Celtic and Rangers have dropped 15 points between them in their nine league games so far this season.
And Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies said this week that the gap between the Old Firm and the rest is narrowing.
"The pressure comes on them to show the consistency required to win a league championship," Smith told BBC Scotland.
The Old Firm have struggled for form this season, with Hibernian and Dundee United within touching distance of the pair at the top of the league.
No team outside the Old Firm has won the Scottish Premier League since Aberdeen in 1985, with Hearts the last side to finish ahead of either when they finished runners-up behind Celtic in 2006.
And Smith says he would welcome a more consistent challenge from any of the other clubs.
You can't make quotes about feeling that you're going to do this and that against the Old Firm and not accept a level of responsibility
Rangers manager Walter Smith
"If the clubs now think they can win a championship or split the Old Firm then that's good for Scottish football," he said.
"It's them that are saying it, so the pressure comes on them to show the consistency required to win a league championship.
"Everybody's talking about it now. If they feel Rangers and Celtic are in a position where they're vulnerable then they have to start to show the consistency levels the Old Firm have shown over the last how many years.
"If we've dropped a little bit in our levels and people start to talk about challenging the Old Firm then it's up to them. That's something we look forward to seeing whether that can be the case.
"You can't make quotes about feeling that you're going to do this and that against the Old Firm and not accept a level of responsibility and if they're saying they can do that then fine."
Smith said that, if the Old Firm were to be split, it would mean the standard of Scottish football outwith the Glasgow clubs was rising "even though we may feel we have dropped down a little bit".
The Rangers manager's views were echoed by striker Kenny Miller, who felt there was little doubt Rangers and Celtic would comprise the top two places once more this season.
"I don't think it's different from any other season," said Miller. "There are always one or two teams who try to stay with us at the start.
"But, over the course of the season, you will probably find Rangers and Celtic at the top.
"History says that will be the case. For the last 20 years or so, we have only been split once or twice and I think that says that Rangers and Celtic will be at the top.
"We've got a lot better quality players, which is why we are always winning the trophies."
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