NEIL McCANN is confident there will be no repeat of the 1999 'shame game' when Rangers and Celtic do battle at Hampden.

The winger netted twice in the famous Parkhead clash as Dick Advocaat's side won 3-0 to clinch the SPL title - but the headlines were made for all the wrong reasons as chaos unfolded on and off the pitch.

Stephane Mahe and Vidar Riseth were sent off for the Hoops, while Rod Wallace also saw red in a fiery encounter, but it was the moment that referee Hugh Dallas was struck by a coin thrown from the home end that sent shockwaves around the game.

Objects were hurled on to the pitch throughout the game and Celtic fans burst from the stand and entered the field of play as the derby clash boiled over.

After three years apart, the Old Firm will go toe-to-toe once again at the National Stadium and McCann has appealed for calm as the build-up continues.

He said: "It's a huge fixture, but because there has not been a game of this magnitude for a number of years, the most important thing is it passes safely.

"That's the biggest concern. I don't know if it will be harder to police because it is a neutral venue. If it was a home game then the away fans can be shepherded in. But hopefully it can be a good event, as it's one that's been sorely missed.

"I know what it can be like. I remember 1999, but I don't think it will be like that - I hope not.

"It's fair to say that was the most volatile game I have been involved in. Anything that could happen did happen that day, on and off the field.

"I am confident it won't get to that stage. There were many things that happened away from the park that day that you don't see, but in terms of the actual game, it was one of the most eventful Old Firm games in memory."

McCann's superb showing that clinched the title almost 16 years ago - as Jorg Albertz also netted - ensured his place in Ibrox folklore.

It will be a very different quality of Light Blues line-up that will stride out at Hampden this weekend as Rangers head into the Celtic clash as huge underdogs.

Struggling for form in the Championship and with the off-field crisis continuing to dominate the agenda, the Gers certainly don't have their problems to seek.

But McCann insists the club's current difficulties won't lessen the expectations or relieve the pressure on the Ibrox squad.

He said: "The phrase 'nothing to lose' doesn't apply in an Old Firm game. You could say a lot of people might not expect you to get a result, but there's always something to lose in an Old Firm game.

"I've experienced both sides. I was on the end of a hiding after the 6-2 game at Celtic Park. That wasn't good and I locked myself away for a week until the storm passed.

"I've been on the other side after winning. It doesn't matter how you go into the match, whether you are strong and in form, it can never be viewed as a meaningless match.

"It doesn't matter if they haven't played for a few years. It's still Celtic v Rangers and there is so much history.

"You can never be ready for it unless you've experienced it, no matter what advice you get from the guys who have played in it 20 times. Nothing prepares you for when you walk out."