Celtic's interim manager Martin O'Neill is keeping his feet firmly on the ground ahead of this weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final, refusing to dream of a fairytale farewell despite the tantalizing prospect.

When asked about the possibility of capping his temporary return with the trophy he famously won three times as Celtic boss, the 74-year-old offered a sobering assessment: "I don't think we are good enough to dream that far." He acknowledged the competition's rich history, adding, "It’s a great competition with a lot of history and I’d like to be a part of that," but his focus remains strictly on the immediate challenge.

That challenge is a Hampden Park clash with St Mirren, a fixture loaded with recent history. Sunday's match is a direct chance for revenge, coming just months after St Mirren stunned Celtic in the League Cup final back in December—a defeat that occurred in the final days of O'Neill's previous interim stint.

Despite the painful memory, O'Neill believes his squad has moved on and is ready for the rematch. "It’s gone now, they’ve lost a cup final," he stated. "So there’s this chance now to try and do something about it." He was quick to credit their opponents, however, noting St Mirren will be buoyed by their previous Hampden victory and a strong performance in a narrow 1-0 league loss to Celtic just last weekend.

This high-stakes semi-final arrives at a critical juncture in Celtic's turbulent season. Sitting third in the Premiership, just three points off the lead, a victory could provide a massive psychological boost for the title run-in. O'Neill acknowledged the double-edged sword, saying a win "definitely would have a positive effect," while a defeat "could have a poor effect on us."

With defender Liam Scales suspended, O'Neill faces a selection dilemma, choosing between Dane Murray and Benjamin Art to shore up the backline. As Celtic prepares for this cup clash, the message from the manager is clear: focus on the present task, not the potential glory that lies beyond it.