SCOTT McDONALD today urged his Celtic team-mates to forget all about playing silky soccer in the title run-in - and scrap their way to a hat-trick of Scottish crowns instead.

The Hoops need to win their final two games against both Hibs at Parkhead on Saturday and then Dundee United away at Tannadice 12 days later to boost their chances of winning the league.

Gordon Strachan's side is currently four points ahead of Rangers - who still have two SPL games in hand and no fewer than four matches remaining in an unpre-cedented backlog of fixtures.

With the Uefa Cup Final to squeeze into their punishing schedule next Wednesday, hopes are high among Celtic fans that their Old Firm rivals will slip up and hand them the silverware.

However, Skippy, who took his tally for the season to 30 with a vital equaliser in the narrow 2-1 win over his former club Motherwell at Fir Park last weekend, reckons they only need to worry about their own games.

And the little Aussie hit man thinks winning at all costs, even at the expense of the attractive free-flowing football which the Glasgow giants are famous for, is what is important for his team at this crucial stage in a remarkable campaign.

"Performances are great. It is always pleasing to win by four or five goals and put on a fantastic display for the supporters. We will always be happy with that," he said.

"But the most important thing at this stage in the season is just to grind out a result no matter how ugly it is to watch. Getting three points on the board is what we must do, first and foremost, in our remaining two matches.

"Obviously, we are hoping that other teams can do us a huge favour against Rangers. But we must concentrate fully on each of our games. We have a tough match against Hibs now at home and we are looking forward to it.

"Against Motherwell last weekend, we went behind and showed a lot of spirit to come back and win the match. It was great to get over the line in what was always going to be a tough game on a bad pitch. That is all that matters at this stage in the season."

McDonald is well aware that, just like against the Steelmen at Fir Park last weekend, there will be no quarter given by Celtic's opponents in their final two games.

Both Hibs and Dundee United, along with Aberdeen and Motherwell, have realistic chances of finishing third and securing a Uefa Cup spot in a sub-plot to the season which is proving every bit as exciting as the race for the actual title.

Scott agreed: "We went a goal down to Motherwell and they probably deserved their lead. I am sure that Hibs and United will both be right up for their games as it will increase their chances of getting into Europe next season if they get a result against us."

If Celtic do come out on top it will be the first time since the Jock Stein era back in the 1970s that they have managed to win the Scottish title three seasons on the spin.

McDonald, a shrewd £700,000 acquisition from Motherwell by Strachan last summer, is desperate to add to his personal haul of goals in the last two games and assist his team's hopes of claiming the only trophy still available to them.

And the 5ft 8in star reckons his improved ability in the air, perfectly illustrated when he outjumped 6ft 3in defender Brian McLean to nod home a Shunsuke Nakamura cross against Motherwell, is helping him hit the target.

He explained: "I got a quality ball in from Naka, managed to fend off Brian and headed the ball into the net. It is always great to score, but especially so when it is an important goal like that one. They had just scored and we got back into the match straight away. It deflated them.

"I have improved a lot in my heading. I have more confidence in that department of my game than I have had before. I am positive I can get on the end of deliveries into the box.

"Of course, it helps your cause when you have guys like Naka and Aiden McGeady supplying you."