THIS is not necessarily the Celtic side that I would pick to play against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.

But I think this is the team that Ronny Deila will select for the second Old Firm game of his reign as manager.

If Erik Sviatchenko, who missed the Premiership match against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, is fit then he should play at centre half alongside Charlie Mulgrew.

I think Sviatchenko has settled in relatively well in Scotland since arriving in January and is the best option if he is available.

He has had to dovetail with either Dedryck Boyata or Mulgrew since being signed. But I think Sviatchenko and Mulgrew is the best combination for this game.

Mulgrew has come back into some decent form after recovering from his injury problems. He also has more experience of playing in an Old Firm game than Boyata.

Mikael Lustig has to start at right back. He has stayed clear of injury on the whole this season and has been a part of the Sweden national team.

The whole Celtic defence has had a far more settled feel about it in the second half of the season and I think that has helped Craig Gordon get back to the level he was at last term.

He was absolutely exceptional in the 2014/15 campaign after coming back from a long-term injury. He has shown that sort of form in patches of late. I think that has had something to do with having a more settled back four in front of him.

Kieran Tierney is young, but he has highlighted that nothing fazes him this season and has performed well in big league games and in European matches. He deserves to start at left back.

I am sure he will flourish in the environment of an Old Firm game. If anything, it will bring out the best in him.

I think Ronny will pick Scott Brown and Nir Bitton in central midfield – with Stefan Johansen just in front of them.

Bitton has come up short for me at times this season when it comes to meeting the physical demands of the game. He has been less imposing than he can be. He has to do better in that area this weekend.

Brown has taken time to get back to his best since returning from a lengthy injury-lay off in January. But he will have been buoyed by the progress Celtic have made in the league in the last few weeks and has great experience of this game.

I made a case for Kris Commons being given the nod in my SportTimes column a few weeks ago. But I don’t think he’s been playing regularly enough to feature from the start on Sunday.

Johansen hasn’t hit the heights of last season in this campaign. But one thing he does do is puts in a lot of effort. He is a niggly presence up front for his side.

The movement the Norwegian brings to the team and the support he offers Leigh Griffiths up front can be important.

The danger Celtic pose to Rangers won’t just come from the striker. It will come from the supply he receives and the movement of the front three.

Patrick Roberts is just a youngster, but he has a lot of ability and a trick or two up his sleeve. He also, as we saw against Hearts a couple of weeks ago, has an eye for goal.

The boy who moved from Fulham to Manchester City for £12 million last season has shown recently that he can turn a game and I think he will play on the right.

On the left, I can see Gary Mackay-Steven getting the nod if he is fit. He has done well in the games he has been involved in in the second half of the season.

Stuart Armstrong, Commons, James Forrest, Callum McGregor and even Colin Kazim-Richards, but I think Deila will favour Mackay-Steven because of the form he has been in.

Up front, Griffiths will be full of confidence after his double at the weekend. He has had off days this season. But he will be up for this match.

Celtic have superior quality to Rangers. They have far better options on the bench as well. Deila will be able to turn to Armstrong, Commons, Forrest, Emilio Izaguirre, Kazim-Richards and McGregor.

Sometimes they have let themselves down this season. But if Celtic show the same desire and commitment as Rangers then they should win as a result of their greater ability.

If they don’t match the application or their city rivals then they won’t.