PATRICK ROBERTS has warned Celtic are out to PUNISH Hibs this afternoon.

Just three weeks ago the pair met on League duty and Roberts reckons the Scottish champions now have the measure of Neil Lennon's team from that 2-2 draw.

That stalemate is perhaps the closest Brendan Rodgers' men have come to losing their unbeaten domestic run, a record that will go to 60 games if they prevail at the national stadium in today's Betfred Cup semi-final.

With Neil Lennon in charge, Hibs have a manager who knows what these big occasions are all about for Celtic as well as some knowledge of the team he is plotting the downfall of.

However, Hoops wing king Roberts has other ideas.

He said: They're a good side. The manager said they were one of the best that we've come up against this season which is probably a good way to look at it.

"They were very direct, very quick on the counter. With Neil Lennon being in charge, he knows what it's like playing against us and he'll have set his team up accordingly.

"They did a good job coming to Celtic Park but at the end of the day we know we're a top side and on our day we can punish anyone, so I'm sure when the semi-final comes around we'll be right at home.

"We got a measure of them in that game. It was the first time since they'd been back in the Premiership so they were raring to go against us. I think at Hampden it'll be different though. it's a cup game, there's more at stake so it'll be a completely different game in many ways.

"They've shown what they're capable of so it doesn't matter if we met them in the semi-final or the final, we know we have to play against teams that are hungry. We just have to play our best against whoever is in front of us.

"We did it throughout last season and we'll do it again this season. It doesn't really matter who we're playing against. As long as we give our maximum during the game and keep the same focus through then we will come through."

Roberts is someone for the big occasion for Celtic.

Last season he had the chance to go to play for England at the U20 World Cup final, but instead swapped that opportunity for the same pitch he will grace this afternoon as he pulled on a green and white shirt in the Scottish Cup final.

It turned out to be a momentous day for all concerned at the Glasgow club on the way to a domestic treble, but it was a particularly poignant afternoon for Roberts who was playing potentially his last game for Celtic before returning to Manchester City on loan.

"I never thought about goodbyes after the game," he told the Celtic View. "We were all too busy celebrating and taking it all in.

"Going into that game, the way I looked at it was, if it was going to be the last time I played with Celtic, I wanted to finish in style, to go there and do what we were meant to do and win the trophy.

"I look at every game like it's my last, though. I play each game as if I won't play tomorrow. That's the way I looked at it then and that's the way I continue to look at it now.

"It wasn't a hard decision for me [to choose to play in the final] as I wanted to win the treble and be invincible throughout the season. In the back of my mind I wanted to finish that."

Now back in green and white, Roberts is relishing the task of achieving even more.

The fans here are amazing and they've always made me feel welcome," he added. "That's a big plus and it makes me want to perform better with every game and repay the faith they've placed in me.

"The manager has brought my game on massively and the lads are great too, so I've put myself in a good position to perform and continue to grow as a player."