Only three of the Celtic side that lifted the 2016 Betfred Cup by beating Aberdeen are likely to start at Hampden on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers hasn’t made wholesale changes player by player things have changed in the 24 months since the Irishman lifted his first major trophy in management.
In the autumn of 2016 Celtic were getting into their stride, extending an unbeaten domestic record that still had almost 12 months to run as they sent out a message across the Scottish game.
Hampden still held bad memories for most supporters, earlier that year semi-finals had been lost to Ross County and the new Rangers club but there was a new air about the management of Rodgers.
Central to the team at that time was Moussa Dembele but as the fans got their heads around a Celtic side playing with just one striker there were a number of attacking options coming off the wings and bursting through from midfield.
By half-time a 2-0 lead had kicked into touch any notion of a ‘Hampden hoodoo’ but no one wold have predicted that it would be the first leg of a double treble.
A treble treble will dominate the build up to Sunday’s match but Rodgers won’t be distracted with all of his energies centred on extending his domination over Derek McInnes.
The Aberdeen boss is hanging onto the ‘dead-rubber’ win at Celtic Park last season, with something very meaningful to play for on Sunday McInnes would be a fool to expect a similar display from the Betfred Cup holders.
CRAIG GORDON
Apart from one spell out injured last season he has been the regular keeper under Rodgers but will watch Sunday’s action from the bench with Scott Bain stepping into his place.
He never lost a goal in the 2016/17 trophy win but did cause a panic with his Kung-Fu run at Greig Spence in the quarter final win over Alloa Athletic.
Bain is applying real pressure for a first team place and could end the season with more winners medals than the club’s first choice keeper!
MIKAEL LUSTIG
A certainty to start at Hampden, he has shaken off the competition from Cristian Gamboa and Tony Ralston to secure the right-back berth.
There has been a few highs and lows since the 2016 success over Aberdeen but Lustig’s attitude is unwavering.
With more stability in the centre of defence he can concentrate on his own game and complimenting James Forrest in attack.
ERIK SVIATCHENKO
It has been quite a climbdown for the Dane, at the time of the 2016 final quite a few supporters were making a case for making him Scott Brown’s successor as captain.
The resurrection of Dedryck Boyata closed the door on his Celtic career with a loan deal back to Midtjylland the first sign that it was about to end.
That deal became permanent in the summer, 2016 was a year of great success for his Celtic career but 2017 was the year where it all went wrong.
JOZO SIMUNOVIC
Was beginning to look like the defender we had hoped for in 2016 but it was strange that such a young player seemed unable to manage more than one game per week.
Last season’s 4-0 defeat at Tynecastle wasn’t just the end of the Invincible run, from that match onwards Jozo has been on the outside looking in with Kris Ajer taking his place.
Simunovic made his last appearance in the defeat away to RB Leipzig, he was stretchered off during the second half and has barely been heard of since.
EMILIO IZAGUIRRE
Stood in for the injured Kieran Tierney back in 2016 and has resumed that role via a year in Saudi Arabia playing for Al Feiha.
The Honduran has picked up an impressive medal tally, including six SPF/SPFL winners medals and is a steady back up to his good pal KT.
December is likely to provide him with a couple of appearances but as he has demonstrated repeatedly it takes a lot to keep Tierney out of action.
SCOTT BROWN
The skipper is no more than a 50-50 shout to start at Hampden- a situation that would have been unthinkable a year ago.
Brown will remain the player that everyone looks to when the chips are down but in his absence over the last month some interesting developments have taken place in the middle of the park.
When the teams are announced at Hampden Brown’s name will be the one to look out for, for a change there are genuine options for his place in the centre of the park.
STUART ARMSTRONG
Was coming into a real strong run of form two years ago after forcing his way into Rodgers’ side after being initially excluded.
The Irishman saw something in his play, took him off the left wing beat with a genuine box to box midfielder with an eye for goal making his impact on the side.
Last season was more low key, no one was upset when he left for Southampton where last weekend he scored his first EPL goals in the 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace.
JAMES FORREST
The man of the moment and League Cup Final specialist with goals in his last three final appearances.
His last Hampden appearance yielded a hat-trick for Scotland, cutting the supply to the winger will be a strong element of Derek McInnes’ preparations.
Hamilton managed to halt Forrest last weekend but it would be a brave punter that bets against the 27-year-old adding to his goal and medal collection.
TOM ROGIC
Opened the scoring in the 2016 final then finished the Invincible season with the stoppage time goal that delivered the Scottish Cup six months later.
Rogic has a track record of scoring against Aberdeen, scoring in big matches and finding the net at Hampden!
His combination play with Forrest has been a key element of Celtic’s impressive recent form, despite reports of a knee injury he is likely to be in from the start on Sunday.
PATRICK ROBERTS
A hamstring injury for Scott Sinclair opened the door for Roberts to face Aberdeen with the on loan Manchester City winger taking his opportunity with both hands.
Last season he was returning from injury to make a brief substitute appearance against Motherwell. Despite an injury interrupted season he still managed to collect all three domestic medals.
His ‘loan journey’ has now taken him to La Liga with Girona, wherever he is on Sunday the chances are that he will be looking in on events at Hampden.
MOUSSA DEMBELE
Scored from the penalty spot in the 2016 final and tended to find something extra for the show-piece games.
Last season his cup final appearance was curtailed by a brutal attack from Cedric Kipre which was typical of his treatment from Scottish defenders and referees.
His departure for Lyon at the end of the transfer window wasn’t a shock, fortunately Odsonne Edouard has stepped up to take his place with Leigh Griffiths now looking for top team action as well.