Celtic manager Ronny Deila expects another feisty but hopefully card-free encounter when the Hoops travel to Dundee United on Sunday.

The clubs have met six times this season, including a replayed Scottish Cup tie and a Scottish League Cup final, with the Parkhead side winning the four matches in Glasgow but still looking for a win at Tannadice.

Four of those meetings took place in March and familiarity occasionally led to contempt with six players dismissed in total, four of whom were wearing United colours.

After losing the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final to Inverness at Hampden Park last week, Deila's side bounced back with a 2-1 win over Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night.

And on the return to Tayside this weekend, Deila is looking for the league leaders to take another step towards the title.

And while the Norwegian knows it will not be easy, he is hoping both sides finish with 11 men.

"I've a big respect for Dundee United, they've had a good season," said the Hoops boss, whose side finished the semi-final last week with 10 men after goalkeeper Craig Gordon was sent off.

"It was tough for them when they lost two players in the transfer window - we got Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong - but they are still a good side.

"I expect a high intensity game but hopefully without any red cards so we can play 11 against 11. That is the most fun thing to do.

"We have been focusing on the next game all the time. We did well on Wednesday to get through against Dundee and it is another important game on Sunday. You can see it (the title win) getting closer but it's going to be a tough game."

Deila has no qualms about coming up against the same team so often over the course of a season.

The former Stromsgodset boss admits it is different from what he has been used to in his homeland but insists it is no big deal.

"You can't meet more than three times in Norway," he said.

"I've only been here one season. If you ask me after 10 years I might think differently but it is no problem for us to play the same team a lot of times."

Deila is boosted by the return of defender Adam Matthews and midfielder Stefan Johansen.

Both players were rested for the Dundee game but come back into contention.

Midfielder Charlie Mulgrew has made good recovery from his hamstring tendon injury but is not quite ready and right-back Mikael Lustig (ankle) is still out.