RONNY DEILA has urged his Celtic players to relish the chance of making history rather than fear it.

The Parkhead side stand on the cusp of completing only the fourth domestic treble in the club's existence, with a six-point advantage at the top of the SPFL Premiership and in the latter stages of both domestic cup competitions. They play Dundee United twice in the next eight days, firstly in tomorrow's William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final at Tannadice then again at Hampden next Sunday in the League Cup final. Success in both ties would put Deila in a strong position to follow Jock Stein (twice) and Martin O'Neill as the only Celtic managers to complete a domestic clean sweep.

Even on the back of a surprise 1-0 loss to St Johnstone at home on Wednesday night, Deila wants his players to seize the opportunity rather than shrink away from it.

"Everyone is aware [that only three previous Celtic sides have won the treble]," said the Norwegian. "That's a positive thing. And we really want it. There is nothing to fear. These are positive things. We are not talking relegation. That's a hard pressure. We have everything to win and we are really looking forward to it."

Deila, though, was keen to underline that nobody at the club was getting ahead of themselves. "We haven't won anything," he added. "I never take things for granted. We just have to keep on winning. I have said before that when you come into April then we can talk about whether it is a [title] fight or not. When we are into the last five games after the split has taken place, if it is still six points then it is a fight. If it is less then it is a much bigger fight. We just need to take it one game at a time."

Neither Stuart Armstrong nor Gary Mackay-Steven will be available for Celtic's next two matches having played in both cup competitions earlier in the season for United. Deila sees their omission as an opportunity for others.

"The players who will play on Sunday are the ones who have taken us to the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and the League Cup final. They deserve to play in these games."

Deila is also waiting on updates on the injury status of several other first-team players. "Adam [Matthews] got a twisted ankle so hopefully he will be okay. Kris [Commons] and John [Guidetti], we will have to see but there are possibilities for both of them. With Emilio [Izaguirre] we have to think about what we will do. He is a possibility but we will be taking a risk with him. It is still too early for [Mikael] Lustig or [Charlie] Mulgew."