Barry Ferguson has urged Michael Beale to sound out those who look destined to crumble under the pressure of the Old Firm derby.

The Englishman is set to sample the fixture for the first time as a manager in his own right on January 2.

Rangers are under huge pressure to gain points from the contest and Ferguson admits his former side cannot afford to lose.

And ahead of the fixture former Ibrox skipper Ferguson has urged Beale to sound out his squad before the action gets underway.

In his Daily Record column, he said: "An Old Firm derby that Rangers cannot afford to lose. At any cost. In fact, it’s probably closer to the truth to say Monday’s meeting with the side from across the city, is a one that Michael Beale and his players simply have to win.

"And - as much as I’d love to sit here right now and predict they’ll get the victory they so desperately need - I must admit I’m not feeling 100 percent confident about their chances. I’d be lying if I said any different. There’s a horrible thought in the back of my mind that, by two o’clock on January 2, Rangers could be stranded 12 points behind Celtic at the top of the table. And, believe me, I’m trying my very best to ignore it.

"But there’s nothing to be gained here in pretending that Beale and his boys aren’t going to find themselves right up against it when they walk out of that tunnel to face a side which is going about its business with all guns blazing right now.

"Yes, in this part of the world there’s a temptation to grudge giving the other lot any kind of credit but Rangers would only be fooling themselves if they don’t acknowledge just how dangerous their rivals have become under Ange Postecoglou.

"I might not like admitting it myself but the Aussie has put together a very impressive team and a high tempo style of play which is impossible not to admire. Even through my old blue lenses.

"If Rangers are in denial about any of that then they might have a nasty surprise coming their way on Monday lunchtime. But that doesn’t mean they should be scared of what’s coming their way. On the contrary, they should be absolutely bursting with excitement for it.

"So if I was in that dressing room over the weekend I’d look into the eyes of these players and ask a very simple question: Is anyone in here frightened of coming up against these guys? If so, stick your hand in the air and leave the rest of us to get on with it.

"Because this is no time to be fearful. Respect is another thing entirely. Don’t fear Celtic but understand what they are capable of doing to you if you’re not ready to go to war with them out there on the pitch. Get the battle fever on and understand exactly what is about to be demanded of you.

"Because, believe me, you’re going to have to be prepared to dig deep into your reserves to come off that pitch with the required result and your hopes of winning this title still alive.

"I still remember the feeling from my own playing days. I’d be inside that dressing room painting a picture inside my own mind, thinking about who we were about to come up against - guys like Petrov, Lennon, Lambert, Sutton and Larsson.

"And I knew if I let them play, if I gave them a split second of peace out there, then they had the quality to do me some serious damage. I simply wasn’t prepared to roll over and allow that to happen.

"Yes, I respected them. They were terrific players.

"But if they were going to get the better of me - and sometimes they did - then they’d have to be prepared to go to the trenches to make it happen. I didn’t fear them even though I knew how dangerous they were. I’d simply ask myself: ‘If they are good players then what are you?’.

"Then I’d go out onto that park with a desire burning inside me to show them just how good I could be. It didn’t always work out that way. That’s the nature of this fixture.

"But I promised myself I would walk off at the end knowing I had emptied my tank fighting against them. And that’s exactly what will be required from Rangers on Monday. No passengers, no fear."