WITH three-in-a-row all but in the bag, Scott Brown believes the touchpaper is just being lit on an explosive period in Celtic's trophy-laden history.

The Hoops captain can lead his side to the title for the third time tonight - and collect his fourth championship medal as a Celtic player.

The ultra-early opportunity to get over the line with win No.27 of the campaign has arrived after Aberdeen could only draw against Ross County last night.

But even before he runs out at a packed Firhill, Brown is looking beyond this prize.

The 28-year-old - whose £4.4million transfer fee when he joined from Hibs has not been topped by the Hoops in the seven years since - is sure more glory days are within reach.

But he will be even more confident if the club hold on to their top stars and invest in the extra bits of quality the manager wants.

The longest-serving player at Parkhead said: "With this squad, it's looking good. If we can keep them together, and make a few additions here and there, then we can go from strength to strength."

The average age of the group assembled by Neil Lennon is just 25, and Brown continued: "It's a young squad. I think I'm one of the oldest.

"But the main thing is we try and keep them together and keep improving.

"We need to add a few faces, and I'm sure the gaffer will do that to freshen things up.

"As long as we can keep most of the players together, I'd be happy."

Georgios Samaras - who joined Celtic a few months after Brown, and who will also be picking up his fourth championship medal - is running down his contract.

Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk are expected to attract big offers in the summer.

But even if there is a repeat of last year when key players Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson, departed for over £20million, Brown trusts Lennon to build again.

But it will be the tried and trusted who will be asked to carry them to the title.

Brown insists the league table does not lie and illustrates how far ahead of the rest they have been.

He said: "If we put our heads together, we know we can go all the way to the end of the season, get a lot of points on the board and score a lot of goals.

"And that's what we're going to do."

Clinching the title tonight will be the perfect present for Lennon, who yesterday celebrated four years in the job.

Brown has been with him every step of the way, through the good days - and the bad.

The captain summed up Lennon's strength by saying: "The main thing is he's a winner, and he tries to put that into every individual, from the senior boys to the young ones coming through.

"He wants us to play football, as well. But the main thing is we get the three points."