CELTIC still have Motherwell and Ross County to negotiate before they can concentrate on the Old Firm League Cup semi-final, but the clash with Rangers is already the only game anyone wants to talk to Anthony Stokes about.
His strike partner John Guidetti said this week that he fancied himself for a hat-trick at Hampden on a fortnight today, but as a veteran of numerous such showdowns, the Irishman is noticeably more circumspect.
There is a growing belief among some of their supporters that the Parkhead side can score a barrowload of goals in the first meeting between the teams since a 3-0 Celtic win in April 2012, not to mention the first since Rangers' liquidation and rebirth.
However, Stokes cautions against a complacent attitude. He would take a 1-0 win, with anyone at all getting on the scoresheet, if it means Ronnie Deila's team are back at Hampden in March for the final.
"I have had fans coming up and telling me if we don't win 4-0 or 5-0 then it will be a bad result," Stokes said. "But you have to be realistic. It is a one-off game and there is going to be a fiery atmosphere, I would imagine. Form will go out of the window in this one.
"I am sure everyone is going to fight for every ball like you always do in an Old Firm game, and I am sure there will be a bit of niggle to it as well. I would take 1-0 every game, every day of the week."
Not that Stokes would actually bet against the cocksure Guidetti achieving his treble. "I would back John to score a hat-trick, but it wouldn't surprise me if he said he was going to score 20 in the game," he said. "One thing he doesn't lack is confidence. I will be the happiest man in the world if he does score a hat-trick.
"I want to score every game I am involved in, but the most important thing is that the team win. I genuinely couldn't care less if I play against Rangers and don't score, but we win the game."
Celtic have two momentous Europa League meetings with Inter Milan to look forward to in the next month or so, not to mention the rare thrill of a potentially taut title run-in against Aberdeen, but for Stokes the experience of playing in Old Firm matches tops the lot in the life of a Celtic player.
"For me it has always been the biggest game," he said. "It is great to play in Europe, but the rivalry with Rangers and what it brings to the city makes it a special occasion and something I am really looking forward to. It could arguably be even bigger this time because of all the time that has passed since we last played them. But first we have to get this week out of the way so we can go into the Rangers game as confident as possible."
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