CELTIC boss Ronny Deila has challenged his side to prove they are rightful SPFL leaders.

And the Hoops boss knows the only way they can do that is by blowing away the opposition.

The champions are on their longest winning run in the league this term, enough to shoot them into top spot for the first time under Deila.

But the fact that this sequence is only four games reveals how inconsistent they were in the first few months of the Norwegian's time in charge.

Newly-promoted Dundee were one of the sides that shocked them during those turbulent times, holding the Hoops to a draw at Dens Park at the end of August.

Deila reckons that was the lowest point of a difficult period.

And, still on a high from the big win over Aberdeen before the international break, the Hoops boss wants to use the visit of Paul Hartley's Dundee to show how Celtic have improved.

Deila said: "Dundee away was the worst game we have played this year, so we have something to prove after that poor performance."

The Hoops boss knows former Celtic man Hartley will put up a fight.

And Deila has warned his players - minus inspirational captain Scott Brown as he serves a one-game ban - that they will be fully tested in front of their own fans.

He said: "Dundee are a well-organised team and have good togetherness. These are usually the differences between a good and bad side."

Deila is convinced the strength his team showed to fight back and take all three points at Pittodrie confirmed the Hoops are now on track to go all out for his target of the Treble.

He said: "Now we are ahead, having played one game fewer [than their challengers], we have the chance to put ourselves in a very good position.

"Hopefully we can continue winning games and put other teams under pressure."

Celtic are boosted by the return of James Forrest after missing three months with a hamstring injury.

Kris Commons is expected to come into contention, but this is countered by the fact Mikael Lustig picked up a hamstring injury while playing for Sweden at the weekend.