Most Scottish football fans will undoubtedly welcome the sight of domestic football this weekend and rejoice at being able to put the torment of the national team’s current woes to the back of their mine. And to kick off the return of the Scottish Premiership we have a truly blockbuster encounter as Neil Lennon’s Hibs travel to Celtic Park.

However, one man who may look ahead to Saturday’s clash with a notable frown is Brendan Rodgers, who will surely note with some displeasure that his recovering side will have to best a team that look to be at the top of their game. Hibs will be gunning for an upset on Saturday and unquestionably look like one of the most impressive sides in the Scottish football season thus far.

Indeed, despite losing numerous key players in the summer, Lennon has once again built a formidable team that never seem to quit or give up. In their opening eight league matches we’ve already seen the Easter Road side go from drawing at half time to then win the game twice, while Lennon’s side have also found themselves losing at the break only to then reclaim a point in a further two games. The Leith club have also gone on to win all three games they’ve been leading in at half time.

Naturally, as most football fans have come to expect from Lennon’s sides, this is largely down to the incredible, attacking talent that flows through his team each week.

Hibs currently average 2.28 league goals per 90 minutes. That figure is higher than any other side in the division and notably more impressive than Celtic’s 1.54 or Aberdeen’s 1.07. Even Hearts, the current league leaders, can only muster an average of 1.65.

It’ll then come as little surprise to learn that Hibs have the third highest average for shots per game, the second highest average for the number of one-vs-one dribbles per match and are unrivalled in the sheer amount of crosses they attempt every 90 minutes.

When it comes to crosses per 90 minutes Lennon has two of the divisions top 10 in his side in Martin Boyle and Daryl Horgan, while full back David Gray sits eleventh in the division with an impressive 4.81. To put that in to context the two players either side of him are Celtic and Aberdeen star wingers James Forrest and Gary Mackay-Steven.

Indeed, Hibs’ strength lies in the sheer amount of innovation and creative ability that lies in their midfield. On top of Boyle’s prowess in crossing the ball, he’s also second in the Premiership for assists per 90 minutes, sevenths for attempted dribbles per 90 minutes and top of the division for the sheer amount of key passes he creates in each and every game.

Hibs’ two new faces in midfield - Emerson Hyndman and Horgan - are also fourth and seventh respectively in the Premiership when it comes to passes in the opposing box each match and both feature in the top 10 when it comes to through passes too. Add to that Stevie Mallan, who sits second only to Hearts’ Steven Naismith when it comes to total goals and assists so far this season, and you have a team bustling with talent across the pitch.

Yet what makes Hibs so impressive is that they haven’t ignored their defensive duties just so they can throw more bodies forward. Lennon’s side currently conceded on average 0.72 goals per game, which is almost identical to Hearts’ average and bested only by Livingston and Celtic.

Equally, the Leith side are second only to Rodgers’ own team when it comes to how many shots they allow on their goal each game too. Craig Gordon’s tends to deal with 6.61 shots per match, while Hibs goalkeeper Adam Bogdan has to contend with an equally limited 7.55.

While Celtic will undoubtedly be the favourites for Saturday’s clash, Rodgers will surely be well aware of what Hibs are capable of. Lennon has built a side that can attack on numerous fronts and are no slouches when it comes to defending either. This is a genuine test for the Scottish champions and one they’ll only overcome if they’re at their absolute best.