With Celtic and Rangers fighting a gruelling campaign on two fronts, their big guns have precious little time for rest

Naturally, then, we're bound to guffaw when recalling all of those well-peddled and widely-accepted prophesies of a European super league involving the Old Firm, both of whom would build dual squads allowing them to field one starting XI on a Saturday and another in midweek. All of it funded by huge pay- per- view revenues, of course.

Well, at least we were partly right. After a decade of expansion, a de facto Euro league is virtually upon us, with Rangers and Celtic into double figures for non-domestic fixtures this season.

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But the theory about separate and unequal teams at each club, fighting on different fronts requiring contrasting levels of skill, simply hasn't materialised - not even for Scotland's richest outfits.

Partly because our 'big two' remain relative small fry in global financial terms, and partly because of the absolute primacy of the league flag in the annual honours wish list, Celtic and Rangers are relying on the same workhorses to shoulder double the burden.

Watching both toil, in their own ways, to grind out SPL results after another week of European action, the problems were obvious. The only solution, though, is beyond the reach of Gordon Strachan and Walter Smith.

By the time Rangers get through their two-match tie with Werder Bremen, they will have played 14 games in UEFA competitions. On top of a relentless drive to reassert hometown bragging rights, that means Barry Ferguson has made 40 appearances for Rangers plus four for Scotland this season.

At least Scotland manager George Burley seems open to some sort of compromise ahead of his first match in charge, the home meeting with Croatia just three days before the Old Firm meet at Ibrox, meaning home-grown regulars on both sides may enjoy a rare easy week.

Celtic have been only slightly less taxed in Europe, having jumped into the Champions League qualifying one round later than their city rivals.

Even if they bow out in Barcelona next week, however, Strachan's men will have played 10 games in Europe's most lucrative - and most demanding - competition.

Captain and defensive rock Stephen McManus - who limped off with a hamstring injury in Sunday's win at St Mirren - has been an ever-present in the SPL and the Champions League, while top scorer Scott McDonald only missed a couple of league matches right at the outset because of a suspension.

Between them, the men mainly responsible for preventing and scoring goals have played 81 times for club and country this season. Although McManus is now due an enforced rest because of injury, with Darren O'Dea ready to step in against Inverness tomorrow night, can anyone blame Strachan for keeping faith with such consistent performers?

On Sunday, he gave Shunsuke Nakamura, who played in all but one of Celtic's 38 league games and all of their Champions League outings last season, a rest from the start but then had to call upon the Japanese dead-ball expert to beat the Paisley side.

Addressing the laboured nature of the victory at Love Street, midfielder Scott Brown insisted: "I don't think we were tired. There was no tiredness from me."

It is easy for Brown to dismiss suspicions of fatigue. Suspended for the Barca clash, he didn't spend half of last Wednesday night chasing Catalan shadows.

Strachan has shown a reluctance to juggle his resources too greatly and, with men like Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Paul Hartley definitely missed at the weekend, his approach is understandable.

As Smith found out when resting Ferguson and a few others for a defeat at Hearts early in the season, the SPL is not to be taken lightly.

Winning the championship remains the priority for both clubs. Only a truly exceptional European achievement, such as Celtic's 2003 run to the UEFA Cup Final, can excuse the 'failure' of finishing second.

Without the cash needed to boast a bench full of £ 5million substitutes, plus a few more with their feet up in the stand, there is little option but to keep flogging the same tired bodies.

And to think Rangers were once linked with Ronaldo in his pomp, the offer to the Brazilian superstar apparently being sweetened by an understanding that he would only really have to turn up for European games, plus the odd major domestic match.

Aye, and he was to be ferried to and from training by hover car.