Ronny Deila believes that the experience he has within his side will be crucial ahead of Sunday's League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

Players such as Scott Brown, Kris Commons, Adam Matthews, Mikael Lustig, Anthony Stokes and Emilio Izaguirre have all experienced the unique tensions that come with an Old Firm game and Deila expects that to be significant on Sunday at Hampden Park.

"I'm very confident," said the Celtic manager. "Something like 60% of them have played in this derby before.

"They have played very important matches and they have experienced this.

"The whole club is thinking and talking about it so I have some idea what it is."

So far in his Celtic career, the noisiest atmosphere that Deila has experienced has come from Celtic Park on European nights.

But with a full house expected at the national stadium on Sunday for the first meeting between the teams in nearly three years, the Celtic boss is well aware that this will be something entirely different to even that.

"I have seen it before but I think it is going to be much louder than I am used to but that is why I am managing," he said.

"You train out in the cold 50% of the time because you are looking forward to these days."

And he is grateful to the advice that has come to him this week from his backroom staff of John Collins and John Kennnedy.

"That's vital," he said. "I am so happy to have staff who know Scottish football.

"That not only helps me in this situation, but through the whole season.

"I didn't know much about the other teams and the players and culture and other things.

"It's much easier to get it when you have other people next to you."