Ronny Deila has banned his players from social media this week as he warns the Hoops stars to keep their lips buttoned in the build-up to this weekend's League Cup semi-final at Hampden.

Celtic and Rangers will meet for the first time since May 2012 this weekend and with tensions around the game growing as it looms nearer, Deila will look for his players to do their talking on the pitch.

Wary of fanning the flames before Sunday's meeting, Deila has told his squad to stay off Twitter and avoid being dragged into any discourse online.

Asked if he had banned his players from using Twitter, Deila said, "Yes. Everything we do can affect it.

"Not only on the pitch, but also what you do on the internet, Twitter, whatever.

"Those are things we don't want to be a part of this week."

And the Celtic manager will stress the important of maintain discipline of the park to his players as the game draws closer.

The police have already visited all four teams this week who will be involved in semi-final action to inform them that there will be consequences should they step out of line - and Deila has appealed to his players for calm heads.

Throughout the years there have been Old Firm game more noted more for their notoriety than the football played and the Celtic manager is well aware that the drama involved in such a high-profile derby can bring out the emotional side of players.

As recently as March 2011 both Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon, from their respective dug-outs went head-to-head in a game in which three Rangers players were shown red-cards and 13 players in total were booked.

"Winners don't only play with their heart, they play also with their heads," said the Celtic manager.

"We have to do both. That's the most important thing.

"We have talked about that and it is important - discipline is always important," said Deila.

"They get tested more in these games and that is why it is even more important to be disciplined and focused and concentrate on the right things.

"It is important to know it's not only us [the police] they have been to.

"They have been to Rangers and also Aberdeen and Dundee United.

"What it's all about? Well, I said in the past we want to have a peaceful game and it's important that we behave respectfully and in a good manner.

"Then everybody can go to the game in peace."

And the Celtic manager has appealed for his players to ignore the mayhem that this fixture can attract - or face up to it afterwards.

"The police made it clear to us that if we do things that cause trouble it will always have consequences," he said.

"It is a semi-final so it is big and it is a derby so you can feel there is extra tension around.

"I have a captain who knows what this is all about so I am quite confident that we are going to play with good discipline. We have not had any problems with that this season."