Ronny Deila has brought in Gary Mackay Steven to replace Colin Kazim Richards for today’s Scottish Cup semi final with Sevco at Hampden.
Defender Erik Sviatchenko has failed in his bid to be for the match leaving Charlie Mulgrew to partner Dedryck Boyata in the centre of defence with the Dane listed as a substitute.
Speaking on Friday Deila said: “We are top of the league, they are top of the league so they are a better team than they were last year, that’s for sure because they didn’t win the league last year.
“They is a big club, they have the second highest budget in the country so of course it should be a big fight but right now we are the best team in Scotland and that is something we should be proud of and it gives us a lot of confidence.
“We know when we are playing at our best that we can beat anybody and R****** as well. We are looking forward to it but at the same time we have to be really focused and avoid stupid mistakes.”
Looking at the prospect of having a player sent off by Craigy Thomson the Celtic boss added: “It is so important to keep everyone on the pitch but you never know in football, it could also be that we play 11 against 10 the other way.
“You have to prepare for every scenario. We have experience of playing 11 against 10 and hopefully now we are going to play 11 against 11.
“We have to play aggressively but at the same time be very controlled.”
Meanwhile Sevco have named just five substitutes as Mark Warburton sticks to his policy of keeping his squad lean.
CELTIC: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Mulgrew, Tierney; Brown, Bitton; Roberts, Johansen, Mackay-Steven; Griffiths
SUBS: Bailly, Armstrong, Kazim-Richards,Commons, McGregor, Rogic, Sviatchenko