No matter what happens at 3pm this afternoon, this week - and this season - belongs to Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers’ team have been unquestionably formidable. A Betfred Cup, a run into the Champions League group stages, a runaway canter to the Ladbrokes Premiership.

All done with the wind of invincibility blowing at their backs.

Celtic have nothing to prove to anyone in today’s Scottish Cup Final. Coming up short to a very strong Aberdeen side, on the back of long, long season, would certainly be no disgrace.

But Derek McInnes’s side are not just fighting the 11 in front of them at Hampden on Saturday, they are swimming against the tide of history.

What a few days it has been for everyone connected with Celtic. On the back of lifting the Premiership trophy – and the longest lap of honour in history – images of the Lisbon Lions haven’t been far from the newspapers or television.

The legend of what a group of local young men did 50 years ago to make their way all the way to the European final is nothing short of miraculous when you think on it.

It’s an achievement that is not only unique to Scotland, but anywhere across Europe. Even Real Madrid needed a lad from Cardiff…

To compare the achievements of the current Hoops team to that of ’67 is a nonsense. The only way to do that is if Rodgers goes on to lift that big jug-eared European Cup himself.

But nevertheless, If Celtic do what many expect them to do today, there is no doubt in my mind they are the most successful Parkhead side since Jock Stein’s.

Coming second to Big Jock is no disgrace.

Let’s be honest, Celtic winning the Premiership was an inevitability before a ball was kicked. Even Ronny Deila’s misfiring lot managed it two terms on the trot.

This season has been different, however. To go an entire season domestically undefeated in the League Cup, League and potentially in the Scottish Cup goes way beyond recent landmarks. Making it into the Champions League last 16, for example.

The focus, resilience and will to win speaks volumes. To come from behind at Ibrox, McDiarmid Park and from 2-0 down at half-time at Fir Park were games in recent years you would have said were beyond them.

Now, in the week of the Lions, this Celtic team has the opportunity to roar themselves into the history books as the treble-winning Invincibles.

If there is a team that can make life difficult for Celtic it is Aberdeen. Take away all the nonsense about ticket allocations, the 11 on the park, on their day the Dons are a handful for any team in this league.

Adam Rooney, Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn have been terrific, while in midfield Kenny McLean has blossomed into a Scotland internationalist. And quite right too.

But their defence could be their undoing here. Despite having Joe Lewis, this Celtic attack, most likely with Leigh Griffiths at its apex, could run riot in this wide open Hampden pitch. If they start like they did at Pittodrie earlier this month, Aberdeen have no chance.

Given how Celtic have blown teams away over the last month when it hasn’t really mattered, including the Dons in that 3-1 win, I just can’t see how complacency or any sort of slip up could creep in this afternoon.

Some of those heroes from ’67 will be watching on from Hampden this afternoon. They will be willing the class of ’17 to victory.

If they manage it, comparisons with those men with the dark green blazers will no doubt continue. But, let’s be honest, this is one contest Rodgers and his Celtic team will quite happily accept coming second.