Ibrox may be the home of Celtic’s old foes but it remains a field of dreams for Scott Brown. It’s also a field of defiance, Diouf and dunderheids.

The dreams are events like the 5-1 walloping of Rangers in the last league outing between the two rivals in Govan last season. The defiance comes from the now famous ‘Broony’ celebration when he launched a left-footed equaliser in a barnstorming Scottish Cup tie and goaded the aforementioned El Hadji Diouf. And as for the dunderheid? Well, that stems from the gurgling halfwit who bounded from the stands and confronted Brown on the pitch in that April encounter. “He came on and probably instantly regretted it,” reflected Brown. “It was ok. If he’d wanted to do something, he would have.”

Life is never dull when the combative Brown is scampering around in enemy territory. That Cup clash six years ago remains seared on Brown’s memory and, ahead of this weekend’s latest crossing of swords, the Celtic captain reiterated the importance of the moment in the wider sense of his Hoops career.

He said: “The Diouf game was the day when the fans and me connected. Beforehand I was a bit of a loose cannon and would get suspensions. It was back in the day when you got a four match ban for six bookings, so it was always hard.

“You were walking on eggshells from the start of the season and when you got a four game ban the fans weren't happy.

"I could understand where they were coming from but it's also quite hard to play in the middle of the park and avoid bookings.

"But that day, Neil Lennon had put faith in me as captain and I still have a great deal of respect for him for that. He let a wee Fife guy become captain and I kicked on from there.

“We were down to 10 men and struggling for a period of time in that game. But we managed to keep the ball and build attacks. It was like we had 11 men by the end of the game and we were the ones pushing for the winner.

‘I don’t know how I scored that goal with my left foot. To be fair, that was a great game. Diouf and myself always had a wee kick and a scratch at each other during the game, a few shouts and a few tackles. You knew how it was. That day, I got the better of him. We got back to 2-2 and were a man down, so you’ll take that.”

Much of the ire from the Rangers fans tends to be directed at Brown. He may as well replace the No 8 on his shirt with a target. Amid the tumult and turbulent torrents of the Glasgow derby, the 32-year-old continues to revel in the cut-and-thrust.

Brown added: “I’ve been a public enemy for years now. You kind of blank most of it but you go there and concentrate on pressing your opponent, dominating and winning the battles.

“If we can do that from the start, and with the pace in our team, then hopefully it can be a day to look forward to.

“You can feed off the atmosphere but you need to blank most of it and help your team-mates. You have to focus on formation, tactics and where to be.

“You have to thrive off the atmosphere and enjoy the experience. I enjoy going to Ibrox, Tynecastle or up to Aberdeen. I enjoy going away as much as playing at Parkhead.”

The fiery tussles with Rangers always stir the senses but, as he climbs the brae on the age front, the vastly experienced Brown now has a greater appreciation of football as a whole.

He said: “You still get a wee bit of the butterflies going out. That will to win drives you on more than anything.

“There is nothing better than going to a packed stadium, where you have a lot of supporters as well, and winning.

“But I enjoy every game. When I was younger, I think I just looked forward to the Champions League and was focused on winning trophies and the like.

“But now I am enjoying my football, enjoying playing with my team mates and working under a great manager as well.

“I’m learning that your body is not done at 30. You can kick on until you are 35 or 36-years-old. That’s why I’m enjoying it. You have to take it in. Football is not going to live forever for me, but I can push it for as long as my body can.”

The Brendan Rogers revolution has energised Celtic as a football club and Brown continues to revel in this renaissance.

“We are in a different place from what we have been before,” said Brown. “The possession stats and the running stats are the highest they have been in the last 10 years.

“It shows the football is really good and you need to maintain that level to stay in the team. You can see from the squad that someone can easily come in and take your position and you are out for 10 or 15 games if they play well.”

With an unquenchable thirst for competition, Brown will continue to drive Celtic onwards and upwards.