With a massive Scottish Cup semi-final looming this weekend, interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. Despite the tantalizing prospect of a storybook farewell with the trophy, the 74-year-old legend is refusing to look past Sunday's clash with St Mirren at Hampden.

"I don't think we are good enough to dream that far," O'Neill stated bluntly when asked about a potential cup-winning send-off. The man who famously lifted the trophy three times during his first spell in charge added, "It's a great competition with a lot of history and I'd like to be a part of that."

This semi-final is more than just a path to the final; it's a chance for redemption. Celtic face the same St Mirren side that stunned them in December's League Cup final, a painful defeat that occurred just after O'Neill had guided the team past Rangers in the semi-final. The interim boss, now back in charge, believes his squad should be motivated by revenge. "It's gone now, they've lost a cup final," he said. "So there's this chance now to try and do something about it."

However, O'Neill is wary, acknowledging the confidence St Mirren will carry from their recent Hampden triumph and a resilient performance in a narrow 1-0 league loss to Celtic just last weekend. The stakes are sky-high, with a domestic double still technically possible in a rollercoaster season at Parkhead.

Beyond cup glory, this match carries significant weight for the Premiership title race. Sitting third, just three points off the top, Celtic could use a morale-boosting victory before the league split. "If we could win the game, it definitely would have a positive effect," O'Neill admitted, while also warning of the potential negative impact of a defeat. "We're going all out to try and win the game."

The manager faces a defensive selection headache with Liam Scales suspended, choosing between Dane Murray and Benjamin Arthur to step into the backline for this high-pressure Hampden encounter.