WILLO FLOOD really should know better than to try and antagonise Scott Brown.

The Aberdeen midfielder claims his former Celtic team-mate's celebrations in the Pittodrie tunnel after the Hoops had scored a last-minute winner in November betrayed the fact the champions fear the Northern Lights.

As he prepares to lead out his team in tomorrow's crunch reunion, Brown - who had been red-carded in that crucial win - swatted away the very suggestion with the disdain he shows as he flattens opponents on the pitch.

"We don't fear anybody," he said in a tone which brooked no argument. "We were down to 10 in the San Siro, and we didn't fear Inter. So, why are we going to fear Aberdeen?

"They can talk themselves up if they want. We'll talk ourselves up, but it comes down to what happens in the 90 minutes. They're keen and look like a good football side. Derek McInnes has done a good job.

"But we're a good team as well, and we'll push them to their limits and see how far they're willing to go."

Celtic manager Ronny Deila is in accord with Brown when discussing the merits of the team which has hung on to the Hoops all season.

"They are a good team," said the Norwegian, who has overseen 2-1 victories in both his meetings with them. "They are very clear. You can see the pattern all the time, what they are doing.

"They are very good on the counter-attack. They have consistency in their squad and in their management, and then they get improvement from that.

"That's what we want as well. That's why we're improving, because we now get consistency in what we're doing.

"Hopefully, we are sitting on the same date next year and you will say the same things about us as about Aberdeen; that this team has consistency, you can see what they're working on, they get better and better and they know each other better and better."

The addition of Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven since the clubs last met strengthens Celtic's hand.

But Deila attaches as much importance to the emergence of Nir Bitton as Brown's defensive-midfield partner.

The manager also believes the penny has dropped with Efe Ambrose, who replaced Virgil van Dijk after the Dutch defender was red-carded in Milan.

If the title is to be retained and the Treble achieved, it will require a squad effort. And the captain accepts it's a massive few weeks for their aspirations.

The Dons are up first, and, when asked if he views them as serious challengers for their crown, Brown said: "I think you've got to, with what they've done this season and how well they've played. They're out of both cups now, so they've got to focus on winning the league."

Celtic's own focus no longer extends beyond these borders after they were knocked out of the Europa League, but Brown can see only positives from the bitter experience of Thursday night.

He said: "To play 60 minutes with 10 men as well as we have done shows you how much we are stepping our game up and how much football we are playing. We were still trying to get the ball down and pass it."

Referee Ivan Kruzliak has been painted as the opponent Celtic could not defeat in the San Siro.

Brown was not among the five players who joined Van Dijk in the official's book - the club will contest an "improper conduct" charge by Uefa for picking up five or more cards during a game - but the captain revealed he did have his say with the Slovakian.

"I spoke to him all the way up the stairs to the drug test room - but he didn't understand a word I said."