Celtic's title charge continues this Saturday as they welcome St Mirren to Paradise for a crucial 3pm kick-off. With the Scottish Premiership split looming, every point is vital, and the Hoops are looking to build on their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Dundee last weekend.

Manager Martin O’Neill has emphasized the importance of focusing solely on this league encounter, despite a Scottish Cup semi-final rematch against the same Paisley side scheduled for next week at Hampden. O’Neill acknowledged that St Mirren, under interim boss Craig McLeish, will arrive with confidence after recent wins, but he firmly believes his squad has the pedigree to handle the intense pressure of a tight title race.

"We have a number of players who have won titles, and that's great," O’Neill stated. "Sometimes those wins have come when you've been so far clear, but this is a different kind of race. I feel as if we have players who are capable of dealing with it." His message is clear: the experience within the Celtic dressing room will be a decisive factor in these final, tense weeks of the season.

On the injury front, there's a mix of optimism and setback. The returns of Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, and Callum Osmand to training provide a timely boost for the squad's depth. However, O’Neill delivered the disappointing news that defender Julián Araujo, injured since the Scottish Cup quarter-final, is unlikely to feature again this season.

As the stakes get higher, Celtic's resolve and championship mentality will be tested. A victory this weekend would send a powerful message and set the perfect tone before the league splits and the cup semi-final showdown.