BACK to basics, and back to business – with all the big guns blazing to fire the champions back to form.

Celtic's post-title-winning break is officially over, and the build-up to the Scottish Cup final begins now.

The 1-1 draw at Dingwall against Ross County followed a 3-1 defeat at Motherwell.

Neil Lennon admitted they would have to sacrifice a few games to allow his big hitters to get some much-needed rest.

But the Hoops' management team insist the respite is over and that, by the time St Johnstone come to Celtic Park on Saturday – when the SPL trophy will be presented – the real champions will be back in situ.

Assistant boss Johan Mjallby has indicated it will be a much more recognisable starting XI next weekend because the cup final build-up has begun.

He said: "There are no more holidays and we really need to make sure we finish this season in style.

"Winning the Double would be brilliant, but you don't want to go into the cup final not having won the two games before it."

Which is why the every effort will be made to clear the injury decks this week.

Mjallby reported: "Victor Wanyama felt his groin a little bit tight and we did not want to take any chances.

"We had the luxury of having already won the championship, and this was a good chance to give someone else a chance because we know what Victor is all about.

"You always want to see James Forrest back playing because he is a fantastic player for us and quite perfect for the way we want to set up the team.

"James and Adam Matthews have been training for the last couple of days and we hope they can have a good week and there is a chance for them to be involved in next weekend's game."

Yesterday's match was considered an opportunity for a few fringe players to stake a claim for cup final places.

But Mjallby reckons the conditions thwarted that plan.

Asked if any of the replacements stood out for him, he said: "No, but it was probably not fair on them because we have a style that we want to play and which we always practise every day in training.

"It's a nice, quick-passing game, and it was hard to really do that in Dingwall because we couldn't really build-up play from the back on that surface because we didn't want them to make any mistakes.

"We've another two games before Hampden, so they still have a couple of weeks to show us they should be involved."