Quite a bit has been made about the number of Old Firm debutants who will be lining up tomorrow at Hampden, with the vast majority of them turning out for Rangers.

Many observers have been quick to suggest that Celtic’s greater experience of the electric atmosphere and frantic nature of the fixture will give them a crucial edge.

On one day back in 2000 though, Bobby Petta and Fernando Ricksen neatly illustrated how different an experience an Old Firm baptism of fire can be.

The Celtic winger tormented his direct opponent and countryman, leaving him so disorientated that he was hooked after 23 minutes with the Hoops already three goals to the good.

It was a career-defining afternoon for Petta, elevating him to hero status with Celtic followers and cementing his place in club folklore.

“That was my first one and when you see what happened – he was substituted, we won 6-2 and I played well. It was great because it set the tone for me,” he said.

“If you can play well in an Old Firm game it lifts the spirits of the fans and you win the fans over. That’s what I had to do and that’s what happened.

“It’s such a big thing for the players of both teams, especially the younger ones, because it is the first of many for them and you want to make sure you give it all you’ve got.”

Petta is slightly nervous for his beloved Hoops going into the fixture, insisting that the pressure is all on them as the favourites in the tie.

He is holding out hope though that the fact they are going up against their bitterest rivals will help them get over their recent Hampden hoodoo.

He said: “It’s all on them. They are expected to win. They are expected by many fans to waltz all over Rangers.

“But it is football and anything can happen, it’s a fixture which has not been played for a long time.

“Celtic’s record in semi-finals has not been great in recent years and that has to be a worry.

“They need to start really brightly in this game, it’s an Old Firm game - you have to match the opponent for effort and desire.

“I think it will be in the head of some of the Celtic players that they have not done well in semi-finals. They will have a think about it – but not too long.

“But it’s not really about reaching the final it’s about beating your rivals so it’s a different situation from previous semi-finals.

“It’s all about the tit for tat. I hope there is no problem and it’s a good advert for Scottish football because it has been suffering ever since Rangers went down.

“I have always known it as Old Firm but I don’t know what’s going on so I say Glasgow derby as well.

“We are in 2016. We are not in the dark ages we have to move on.

“There is always something to dig up. To me it doesn’t make a difference.

“There are a group of people who say it’s a new club but they won’t be thinking like that at the match on Sunday.

“It’s still the same in my opinion.”

Petta is sure that this year’s fixture will be far more entertaining than the last, and he thinks it will provide a useful barometer for both sides ahead of them slugging it out in the Premiership next season.

“I hope it’s going to be a quality game – not like last time,” he added.

“I just hope for Scottish football that it is a good attractive Glasgow derby that we all know.

“Rangers have a new manager and they are playing attractive football and all the pressure is on Celtic.

“It’s a good taste for what we will get next season and it’s a good test for Rangers to see where they are in terms of how much they need to strengthen.”