Pedro Caixinha pleased Celtic skipper Scott Brown is free to face Rangers at Hampden

The midfielder was sent off during the Premiership draw with Ross County last weekend but he will be able to lead out Brendan Rodgers’ side at Hampden.

Celtic have appealed the red card that was shown by referee Don Robertson in the final minutes of a controversial clash in Dingwall.

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But the hearing will not be heard until next week after the disciplinary process was rescheduled due to the Bank Holiday on Monday.

Caixinha has no issue with Celtic using the situation to their advantage and he is pleased his midfielders will have a chance to go head-to-head with the Parkhead captain.

He said: “All the team, not one player.

“They have very good associations between the players and know exactly what they have to do in the moment.

“That's what we expect and we are glad also that Scott Brown can play in this match.

“It is going to be a very interesting match and we want our opponents' squad to be full. To have the older players.

“I don't know [if they would be weaker without Brown]. I'm not talking about possibilities, I'm talking about reality.

“The reality is Brown is going to play. And that means they are going with their best players and best squad.

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“I am glad to face them under those conditions to test ourselves.

“When someone comes and breaks the rules you have other rules to test those rules. We all do it.

“If I over speed and I cannot afford to receive the ticket I will do something to avoid receiving it. Why not? It's the human side.

“The laws are such that the lawyers know how to test them. That's not a criticism. Of course if we were in the same situation we would do the same thing clearly.”