MARTIN O'Neill abstained from drink for Lent this year; he might well have been reaching for the bottle early after he was sacked by Sunderland just hours before Easter Sunday.

But, if Neil Lennon promises that Celtic Park will not be the scene of any excess if his team clinches the title today, he is fuelled by pragmatism, rather than paranoia.

The Celtic manager desperately wants to cross the finishing line in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. If they defeat Hibernian at home, and Motherwell lose to St Mirren, the title is in the bag.

However, with a William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against Dundee United next week, Lennon does not want to repeat the sins of the past. Last term, Celtic won the title at Rugby Park with a 6-0 mauling of Kilmarnock then, eight days later, lost to Hearts to end any ambitions of a double.

"I'd like the championship settled before the break," admits Lennon. "I would like to go into the semi-final with the league wrapped up. Even if we do win the league now, there will not be much celebrating until the outcome of the semi-final."

Certainly, Celtic have looked as if they had followed O'Neill's Lenten vow over the last two months. Since the 3-0 Champions League defeat by Juventus on Shrove Tuesday, they have abstained from enjoyment away from home.

Lennon's side have won one of six games on the road, including the Easter Sunday frustrations of last weekend, and that has overshadowed a goal binge at Parkhead with 15 scored against Dundee United, Dundee and Aberdeen.

"Our home form has been sensational but I want to see a bit of swagger about our play that's been missing the last few games," said Lennon. The Celtic manager set a target of 95 points in January, but that ambition has evaporated. He recognises that a hangover settled on the club after the Juventus tie.

"There's been a bit of a lull since the Champions League exit and we need to get that sorted," he said. "We need to invigorate the group and get that buzz back. There's no doubt Europe had a huge emphasis on our season. I just want us to play with a bit of free-flowing football that's been missing. I've not seen much evidence in it in the past few weeks. Europe energised the players but there's been a bit of flatness since we've come out of that competition."

Motherwell have enjoyed better form, using a run of games that included the defeat of Lennon's side at Fir Park to eat into the champions' lead at the top and bring it down to 13 points with six games left. Charlie Mulgrew insists those slip-ups away in the league were not the result of pressure from Stuart McCall's team.

"We have never concentrated on Motherwell, it has always been about us," said the defender. "There have been matches we should have won and we are disappointed with that.

"The motivation has been there from the manager to try and push us on and get us to win. However, it has not always happened and that is why we are determined to beat Hibs. We are concentrating on ourselves and we want to get things done sooner rather than later."

While Pat Fenlon's side were early-season contenders for a lofty league finish – having drawn 2-2 at Celtic Park and beaten the champions at Easter Road – 2013 has brought an alarming slide. Lennon admits the probable top six after of the split are not the usual suspects.

"Kilmarnock are in the driving seat against Dundee at home," he said. "They had a great result at Ross County and there might be a bit of nerves going into this weekend but I'd fancy Kilmarnock to beat Dundee. That would leave some big clubs in the bottom six, teams you would not have envisioned being there at the start of the season.

"Motherwell have done great. They have played some great football and had fantastic results. They don't play like they're under pressure. They seem to play with a bit of freedom. I saw them beat Hibs 4-1 recently and Stuart McCall's done a great job."