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Next Old Firm game will be the biggest EVER, says Rangers defender Stevie Smith 11 Dec 2013 10:03 SMITH reckons there will never have been interest in a match between Rangers and Celtic like there will be when the sides next meet simply because it's been so long since the last derby. Steven Smith playing for Rangers SNS Group RANGERS defender Steven Smith believes the next Old Firm game has the potential to be the biggest ever. The full-back is relishing the moment the Glasgow rivals meet again and reckons it could eclipse anything in the fixture’s long history. The last clash was April, 2012 before Rangers’ were reborn in the bottom tier of Scottish football. The sides avoided each other in the draw for the last 16 of the Scottish Cup but Smith says when they do meet again Ally McCoist’s men will be ready. He said: “The next Old Firm game, whenever it may be, is going to be massive. “When I used to play in them people would say they were huge. But for obvious reasons this one will be even bigger. There will be incredible interest in it – more than normal if that’s possible. “But if it comes around we will be ready to play them wherever it may be. “The next one will be the biggest ever, there’s no hiding from that. “It will be the biggest build-up there has ever been to a match against Celtic but as players you have to go and enjoy it. “I can understand some fans thinking we might not be ready to play them yet because of everything that’s gone on. But we’re not scared of anyone and we’ll be ready to do our best to win it. “I remember people were moaning a few years ago because we had seven Old Firm games in one season. “But you don’t know what you’ve got until someone takes it away from you. As a player those were the games you looked forward to and wanted to play in. They are massive and where you want to test yourself.” Smith returned to Ibrox in the summer, along with a host of new signings, but is up against in-form Lee Wallace for the left-back slot. He’s having to bide his time for a chance to shine but insists he won’t be knocking on McCoist’s door looking for answers. Smith said: “It’s always frustrating when you’re not playing. But sometimes you have to appreciate the club you’re at and the guys playing in front of you. “I have to wait for my chance and when it comes I’ll be ready. It’s hard to shift Lee the way he’s playing but I knew that before I came. “I’ve always known how good he is and that’s the challenge for me. I didn’t think I was going to play every week and I’ve absolutely no regrets about coming back.” Despite the continued off-field turmoil at Rangers, Smith is adamant the club hasn’t changed too much since he left in 2010. And he praised talented youngsters like Lewis Macleod and Fraser Aird for dealing with the pressure and forcing their way into McCoist’s starting line-up. He said: “The manager has made a lot of signings and that has helped everyone. “The young boys are now having to work harder for their chance but the likes of Lewis and Fraser are proving it can be done.” Steven Smith meets kids at the Southbank Child Development Centre in Glasgow SNS Group Steven Smith yesterday visited kids at the Southbank Child Development Centre in Glasgow as part of Rangers’ commitment to support the Yorkhill Children’s Charity.