Neil Lennon is prepared for the poisonous sort of afternoon that Scottish football likes to put down as banter.
Since he joined Celtic in 2000 he as gone through all sorts of horrors, been the subject of street attacks, attempted bombings and having to move home at short notice due to anger and intolerance.
As Rangers (IL) battled to survive as a company Lennon took the onslaught and a 15 point deficit to win the title during the dramatic 2011/12 season that saw firstly administration at Ibrox rapidly followed by liquidation.
Hibs boss Neil Lennon asked when he had last been to Ibrox.
“I dunno. It was the year Rangers got liquidated.”
Not giving a flying . . .— Matthew Lindsay (@MattLindsayHT) August 11, 2017
Bizarrely the former Celtic boss seems to take more blame for liquidation than Dave Murray and Dave King but after almost 20 years the Hibs boss knows all about Ibrox logic.
“There are some difficult things you have to listen to regarding your heritage or your family or your background,” he told BBC Scotland. “It’s something you don’t ever get used to, but you can draw some strength from as well.”
After a winning return to the Premiership last Saturday against Partick Thistle Lennon will be looking to build on that result in a re-run of the 2016 Scottish Cup Final.
Former Celt Anthony Stokes, who scored twice in the Hampden success is expected to start the match at Ibrox after scoring twice in the League Cup win over Ayr United.