In the early weeks of June, Celtic fans joked that it hadn't rained in Glasgow since Brendan Rodgers' appointment; such was the euphoria surrounding the former Liverpool man's arrival.

Few clouds have appeared on the horizon since with the Northern Irishman getting an early taste of the Scottish winter as he stood in dreich weather at the club's striking Lennoxtown training base proudly clutching his Manager of the Month prize for August.

Saturday presents his first live experience of a derby clash with Rangers and come full time Rodgers may have already overcome two hurdles which eluded predecessor Ronny Deila last season.

Successfully securing a place in the Champions League group stage, and with it glamour games against Barcelona and Manchester City, has ensured supporters have bought into the new manager's vision for the club with a perfect Premiership start hinting at the potential for domestic domination.

Calm and assured as he entered Celtic's media room, the 43-year-old old delivered a measured yet confident display in front of the cameras, acknowledging the significance of the contest while refusing to go overboard on the long-term magnitude of any result for his side or their rivals.

"This is one [game] which is iconic throughout the world and one I'm really looking forward to." Rodgers said.

"It will be another measure of how far the team has come. I think there was disappointment the last time Celtic played Rangers in the cup so this will be a good measure to see where the team is at. It'll be a tough game I'm sure."

A lunchtime date will serve as a reunion for Rodgers and Mark Warburton following the pair's time together at Watford. While the relationship never amounted to "best mate" status, there's a clear mutual respect between the two.

Rodgers added: "Mark has done a great job at Rangers. I think he deserves a huge amount of credit for the work that he's done. He's probably sensed now they've got promoted the expectation at Rangers to do well. Up until now he's done a very good job.

"When he took them on they were in a difficult moment and he got them playing a very good style of football and they responded very well to his methods. He's taken a lot of players in over the summer and it always takes time to bed them in."

If Neil Lennon's mission statement was to bring the thunder back to Celtic Park then Rodgers' side provide the lightning.

Built to overwhelm opponents through possession, Celtic are able to spring into life at frightening pace through Scott Sinclair, Patrick Roberts or James Forrest on the flanks while Leigh Griffiths provides a deadly finishing touch inside or out of the penalty box. It follows the formula which Deila often preached but was ultimately unable to deliver.

No stranger to intense city rivalries, Rodgers has experienced passionate clashes between Swansea and Cardiff as well as Liverpool and Everton in his time as a boss. Followers of Glasgow's big two will protest their rivalry sits on another level entirely and while respectful of everything at stake on Saturday lunchtime, the Celtic manager is not prepared to lose any sense of control.

"The intensity needs to be there in your game but you also need to have the cool mind to think in the game tactically. My experience tells me that the teams who play with the coolness and composure will come through and play well.

"The Merseyside derby was a fantastic game. The south Wales derby is different and in its own way, great games to be involved in and also Liverpool versus Manchester United, a real inter-city rivalry.

"This here is a different one again and I am really looking forward to it, as are the team.

"It is one of the first games I looked for when the fixtures came out and very quickly it is upon us - and I can't wait."

Ahead of April's Scottish Cup semi-final, much was made of Warburton's inexperience in such a unique environment with that position now being filled by the man from Carnlough as the sides prepare to meet away from Hampden for the first time since 2012.

The renewal of this city rivalry on a regular basis has been heavily discussed since Rangers' promotion to the top flight was confirmed in early April. Having expressed his admiration for the noise generated against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the man in the home dugout is preparing for an occasion to remember.

"Of course a lot of my adulthood in England I have been coaching and working so never really had the chance to see them but certainly watched them on television when I could," Rodgers said.

"But I don't think anything will prepare you from watching on the television to actually being there.

"And this time being the first time in the number of years there has been a Celtic-Rangers game at Celtic Park then of course that is going to add that little bit of spice to it.

"Each one is unique and different.

"I am really looking forward to this game because I have heard noise at Celtic Park that I haven't heard before as a manager and a coach, wherever I have been, home or away.

"That is why so many players around the world speak so fondly and highly of the atmosphere at Celtic Park.

"It really is a unique atmosphere and with over 60,000 in it and with over 55,000 probably cheering for Celtic I think it is going to be an incredible occasion and a great occasion for Scottish football."

A match to remember in Glasgow's east end would add to the blockbuster feel surrounding this season's top flight and with a trip to the Nou Camp to come three days later, there's already a strong sense that under Rodgers' guidance Celtic are back in the big time.

Having already dispatched contenders to the throne including Hearts and Aberdeen this term, victory this Saturday would allow the reigning champions to put down a serious early marker towards achieving six in a row.

Right now it appears the sun is only rising on Celtic and their new manager and it could be set to shine for a while yet.