It is an inconceivable notion that a prodigious poacher with 30 goals behind him would be overlooked for a must-win derby against his team's greatest rivals.

That, though, has been the tale of Kris Boyd's involvement in Old Firm encounters for much of his Rangers career.

Between now and Saturday morning, Walter Smith will wrestle with a familiar conundrum. On this occasion, the case for Boyd's inclusion is a compelling and surely irresistible one. The return to fitness of Kenny Miller and Kyle Lafferty, two more rounded contributors, adds to the quandary, as does the emergence of Andrius Velicka as a Boyd clone.

Being dropped for the defining, if not necessarily decisive, final derby match of the season at Ibrox would represent the most crushing blow in a roll-call of disappointment. Boyd's relentless haul of goals for Rangers has reached two significant milestones in recent weeks; his 30th of the season underlining a sunnier outlook and greater work ethic, while reaching a century ensured his place in the pantheon of all-time Rangers predators.

For all his larceny, closer scrutiny of his achievements turns up one lingering fact: Boyd has scored only once against Celtic and the bulk of his 101 goals have been against teams from the bottom six. It is a flawed critique: Boyd has played only six times against the champions and his lack of output in the fixture is as much a consequence of Rangers' creative deficit than any Kryptonite properties within the green and white hoops.

Kirk Broadfoot has been a close friend and confidant throughout Boyd's peaks and troughs.

He acknowledged the 25-year-old's determination to underline his credentials with a long-awaited appearance against Celtic but not for the gratification of his critics.

"Everybody knows what Kris Boyd can do but I see him every day in training and he has worked so hard," said Broadfoot of a player whose attitude and output have improved immeasurably since Birmingham City's £3m bid was accepted by Rangers in January. "He is in the gym every day and has been a credit to himself. He has had a lot of stick but he has responded in the right way.

"I think when you are with Rangers, you want to play in the Old Firm games. Kris wants to score no matter who he plays against but I think deep down he will want to play and score against the champions and our greatest rivals - but for no other reason than his own satisfaction and his own achievements. He does not care about shutting people up because I think he has done that already after all that has gone on this season."

There are others who have enhanced their prospects of an unlikely prominence in the final weeks of the season, some beyond wildest expectations. Broadfoot can relate to the resurgent powers of Velicka, Steven Smith and Christian Dailly more than most.

He confounded popular opinion simply by donning a Rangers jersey. The return of Lee McCulloch, Sasa Papac and Lafferty from injury, and Madjid Bougherra from suspension, may impact on the aforementioned trio's chances of continuing their personal reinventions.

Broadfoot believes their belated prominence has equipped them with the character to survive and prosper in the biggest game of the season. "The boys have had to be patient, the same as I had to be last season," he said. "Everybody knows they are good players but the problem is people were playing well in those positions earlier in the season.

From experience, it gives you a bit of extra fight and determination to prove you are capable after such a long time out. Andrius started the season then was out of the picture and now he has scored four in four.

It is not a gamble, he is a £1m player. I was a free transfer and, if I am honest, nobody expected me to kick a ball for the club."

Broadfoot is resigned to not kicking another ball this season. He has been plagued by a persistent foot injury that at first proved irritating and then prohibitive. "Of course these games are hard to miss out on," he said. "The Old Firm derby is a special occasion but this one is even more special because the league is so tight and both teams want the win to give them the edge in the run-in.

"You get frustrated but then you look at Kevin Thomson, who has been out for six months. You have the same feeling. I have missed maybe four games and played in more or less every other this season but you still feel out of the loop. The boys try to make you feel part of it but it is a disappointment knowing you will play no part in the big games that will decide the title."

He sustained the original metatarsal problem in the 0-0 derby at Celtic Park in February and exacerbated it in a series of games that culminated in his ordering off in the 2-0 Co-operative Insurance Cup final loss to Celtic, the final straw for the suffering defender. He was red-carded for a tackle on Aiden McGeady in the final minute of extra time, one he feels was unfairly criticised.

"I do not think I played badly considering I was carrying an injury," he said. "It was the end of extra time, I was carrying an injury and hadn't played for three weeks before it. I know people were critical but that is easy to do from the outside. In my mind I was stopping a certain goal and even if it meant me getting sent off, there was a chance the keeper could have saved the penalty and we could still have tried to get a goal. Instead it looked silly but I would do the same thing again."

His priority now is recuperating in time for pre-season and proving himself worthy of a new contract, despite the financial uncertainty engulfing the club. "I kept coming back and it just got sorer and sorer, to the extent I wasn't doing myself justice any more and my performances were dropping," he said. "I would like to say there is a chance of playing again this season but realistically I have brought myself to realise I won't be. If there is, then that is a bonus but what I don't want to do is jeopardise next season."