FRANK McGarvey believes overcoming the mental anguish of laying Tommy Burns to rest may be Celtic's biggest obstacle if they are to retain the SPL championship.
McGarvey attended the funeral of his former Celtic team-mate on Tuesday and admits he felt drained afterwards.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and his entire first-team squad attended the mass at St Mary's Church in Calton, Glasgow.
The former s
triker feels Strachan has a tough job getting his players mentally right for their crucial clash with Dundee United at Tannadice tonight.
McGarvey said: "I think it will be very difficult for the Celtic players because I was at Tommy's funeral and I was mentally very tired last night after being at the chapel, the graveside and then back at Parkhead.
"It would have drained the players and I don't think it's an advantage that it's happened.
"I remember Johnny Doyle died in the early 1980s and at the time we were going very well, winning every game, and we played Hibs on the Saturday after it and none of the boys were up for the game.
"So looking back at that experience I think the Celtic boys have really got to concentrate on the game, putting Tommy out of their minds and if they do win the game then they can dedicate it to Tommy.
"They'll need to concentrate hard and make sure everything is right for the game and I think Tommy's funeral has taken away from that and it will be very difficult for the players to get back on track.
"It was mentally very draining for myself and I'd imagine the players, who have trained with Tommy every day, it must be very draining for them.
"It would be great if they could win the game and dedicate it to Tommy, but I feel it'll be very difficult for the players to concentrate after everything that's happened this week."
Celtic and Rangers are level on points at the summit of the SPL ahead of the final game, although Strachan's charges have a four-goal advantage.
A win for Celtic against Dundee United should be enough for them to clinch their third successive championship unless Rangers go on a goal spree against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McGarvey cannot see that happening and after looking down and out at one stage he believes the momentum is now with Celtic.
He added: "The most important thing Celtic have got is momentum and they've come back.
"The Rangers players need to win their game as they won't win 5-0, that's an impossibility for me as Aberdeen have only been beaten four times at home and Bayern Munich couldn't beat them at Pittodrie, so five goals is out of the question."
Rangers legend Richard Gough similarly believes that the team that holds their nerve will be crowned champions.
The nine-in-a-row-winning Rangers captain feels if his former side can take an early lead against Aberdeen at Pittodrie then they could secure their first title since 2005.
Gough said: "It's much tougher as you need it in your own hands. Walter Smith and Ally McCoist will be saying just win the game and we'll keep our fingers crossed that something goes wrong.
"We don't need to look back too far to when something went wrong for Celtic when they lost two goals in the last two minutes in 2005 (against Motherwell).
"Whenever it goes down to the last day it's huge nerves and tension.
"If Rangers can score early they will know at Tannadice they've scored and that will make it worse.
"Last-day dramas are great and are what football is all about."
Gough played under Smith during the 1990s when Rangers dominated Scottish football and believes if his former manager secures this season's championship it will be rated as one of his greatest ever achievements.
"I read a quote from Walter that he didn't expect to be where he is with this side," said Gough, speaking at a Setanta Sports press conference.
"He didn't expect to be in the UEFA Cup final, he didn't expect to be challenging for the championship as he is still building the team.
"If they won it I think it would be one of his best achievements. I'm just delighted that Walter and Ally have got a real pride back in the club which was missing a couple of years ago."
Gough is full of praise for one of his successors at the heart of the Rangers defence, Carlos Cuellar. The Spaniard has been outstanding this season after his £2.37million move from Osasuna.
He said: "Carlos has had a good season but sometimes you get judged on your second season.
"If Jean-Alain Boumsong can go for £8m then Cuellar is worth £24m."
The full article contains 807 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
