O'Neill was drafted in after Brendan Rodgers resigned on Monday together with his group behind Coronary heart of Midlothian within the league desk, having missed out on Champions League soccer, and amid protests towards the Celtic board over a disappointing summer season switch window.
“This can be a large recreation for us,” O'Neill mentioned. “Actually, do not disguise that in any respect. It is a semi-final, it is a large match for us.
“Any Celtic-Rangers recreation is an enormous recreation, however significantly given the circumstances of the current days, if not weeks, completely.”
In his first spell, O'Neill gained 16 of his 27 Previous Agency fixtures, drawing three and dropping eight.
Nevertheless, there was only one victory from his 4 earlier Hampden conferences with Rangers and there was only one League Cup success over his preliminary five-year stint at Celtic Park.
Requested about his derby recollections, O'Neill recalled: “Only a nervousness for about 72 hours earlier than after which, for those who acquired the consequence, a terrific aid.”
When requested if he felt completely different this time round, he mentioned: “Completely not. No, no, worse.”
O'Neill recalled that his first derby got here after “5 – 6 video games” in cost, whereas Sunday arrives after only one this time – Wednesday's 4-0 league win over Falkirk.
“I realized a terrific deal on the Falkirk recreation, which was nice for us – a restoration of confidence,” he mentioned. “So we'll go into this recreation with that confidence and that is a very powerful factor.
“However even when I used to be right here a month or one thing, it could be actually arduous to gauge precisely what the gamers can do.”
Danny Rohl, half O'Neill's age, shall be within the reverse dugout in solely his fourth recreation as Rangers head coach.
“I've heard a number of good issues and I believe I mentioned this even earlier than I acquired this job,” O'Neill added.
“I believe a number of the gamers at Sheffield Wednesday had been very complimentary about him.
“That was an enormous win for them there at Easter Highway [1-0 against Hibernian]. So that they'll be going to the sport with loads of confidence themselves.”
