Since Celtic 's 1986 triumph over Hearts on the final day of the season, a team from either side of Glasgow's great divide has won the title.
And success in the first derby of the season is crucial for league success come May.
Neil Lennon's side are hoping to return to the top of the Scottish Premiership to kick on in their quest for 10 In A Row as they host great rivals Rangers on Saturday.
And since the start of that 85/86 campaign, the losing side in the first fixture went on to win the league only five times - with the Hoops managing it on four occasions.
They were the last side to accomplish the feat. A 4-2 loss at Ibrox in 2011/12 set the pace in the title race but Lennon's men then overhauled a 15-point deficit to win the league.
Throughout their run to Nine In A Row under Lennon and Brendan Rodgers, the Parkhead club haven't lost the first derby of the season.
But they also managed to bounce back in 2005/06 and 2007/08 after losses in Govan, and before that kicked on from another Ibrox defeat in the 1997/98 season in which Wim Jansen's side stopped Rangers from completing their own 10 In A Row run.
Alex McLeish 's Light Blues meanwhile managed to brush off a 1-0 loss in Glasgow's east end in 2004/05.
That marks the only season in 35 years during which Rangers have tasted league success despite losing the first Old Firm match.
And Steven Gerrard's side will be looking to put down a marker after winning the previous derby at Parkhead last December.
