THE league title is now so close Ronny Deila and his players can almost smell it.

However, they still can't touch it.

And, until it is safely back in Celtic's possession, no-one at Parkhead will consider it job done.

A maximum of five points -less, if Aberdeen don't beat Dundee United this weekend or fail to win when the Hoops go to Pittodrie a week on Sunday - is all that stands between them and four-in-a-row.

The record books show Celtic have only enjoyed four consecutive championship wins three times in their 127-year history, the most recent when they made it nine-in-a-row in the Sixties and Seventies.

But history also shows it is foolhardy to consider the race run until you cross the finishing line and make your way to the podium to get your medal.

Everything Leigh Griffiths touches at the moment turns to goals, but even the in-form striker is wary of tripping over in the final few strides and finishing with a bloody nose rather than a title party.

Like the rest of his team-mates, Griffiths got a tad excited when he heard Inverness had taken the lead against Aberdeen last Saturday afternoon, as it promised to bring the line that bit closer to the Hoops.

But the Dons battled back to win 2-1 and turn the pressure back on Celtic as they prepared to go to Tannadice the next day.

The comprehensive 3-0 victory there - the Hoops' second inside four days on Tayside - returned their lead to eight points.

Now they don't even need to win another game to be crowned champions again.

Three draws - provided one of them is gained at Pittodrie on May 10 - would get their name on the trophy.

But that's not even coming into the thinking of the men in green and white.

They want to win every one of their remaining fixtures and lift the trophy in style.

A victory against Dundee at Celtic Park on Friday would mean they could be crowned champions the following day if Aberdeen slip up against Dundee United at Tannadice.

If Derek McInnes' side maintain their impressive winning form, it will set up a much- anticipated showdown at Pittodrie the following weekend, when a point would be good enough to have the Hoops hailed as champions.

Given that Celtic have defeated Aberdeen in all three of their previous encounters this season - results which have been crucial in establishing their respective positions in the table - Deila's Bhoys should be confident if such a scenario transpires.

But Griffiths has suffered enough disappointments in his career not to take anything for granted.

He said sagely: "It's not done. We still have work to do. We went to Inverness a couple of weeks ago and struggled to get a draw. Aberdeen went there last weekend and got a win.

"So, we have to remain focused and not think it is all over. We play Dundee on Friday, then Aberdeen have to go to Tannadice the next day, when, hopefully, Dundee United will give them problems and allow us to go to Pittodrie the following weekend as champions.

"But we're not counting our chickens. We've still to play Dundee, and must play well in that game to get the win we want."

Griffiths continued: "We've already got one cup in the bag. Now we're hoping we get the league wrapped up as soon as possible. Losing the Scottish Cup semi-final was disappointing. Things could have gone our way, but they didn't.

"We have to congratulate Inverness. They are a hard team to play against, and it will be tough for Falkirk in the final. But we are now focusing on the games we have left, and want to win them all. The gaffer came in last summer and said he wanted to win the Treble.

"But, the most important thing was to win the league again. We want to be back in the Champions League, and this is the only way to get there."

Deila admitted he was concerned his players would suffer a hangover from the semi-final defeat.

Griffiths explained the manager had done his best to ensure no-one wallowed in self pity.

"The gaffer got us together on the day after the semi-final and told us we couldn't feel sorry for ourselves," said the striker. "We were going to Dens Park two days later. We had to dig in and get three points because it was the only way to bounce back.

"Thankfully, we didn't have a week to ponder what had happened at Hampden.

"It was good to get a game as quickly as we did, and with it the chance to put it right again.

"Then we went to Tannadice, which is another difficult venue, and won again.

"United were missing a few key players. But the ones who came in wanted to impress and made it difficult for us in the first half.

"The manager gave us a right rollicking at half-time. His complaint was about everybody, really. We were a bit sloppy on the ball, and there wasn't enough movement up top.

"So he had a go at us. But we went back out and showed what we're all about.

"We got moving forward, got people on the ball and created chances."

Three of which Griffiths took with aplomb to continue his impressive strike rate in the games he has played against United this term.

Some players seem to know how to score against certain teams. For Griffiths, United are one of those sides.

He has found the net six times against them and said: "I go through phases where I play against certain sides and score against them all season.

"Thankfully, considering how often we have played against them, it's been United this time."

He added: "I'm just trying to build on what I did last season.

"And I then want to build on even more next term."