NEIL LENNON has bad news for the fringe players and rising stars hoping to be given their chance in tonight's Scottish Communities League Cup tie against Raith Rovers.

The Celtic boss is wary of suffering a knockout blow against the First Division side.

He has seen the damage which playing an under-strength team can wreak, and is not going to fall into that trap.

Still hurting at losing last season's final to Kilmarnock when heavy odds-on favourites to lift the only domestic trophy he has not won, Lennon intends to roll out most of his big guns tonight at Parkhead.

So, the youngsters hoping this could be their opportunity to take to the big stage between midweek Champions League games look like being disappointed.

The Hoops boss said: "I want to win the game and, if I need any of the boys, then I might put some on the bench to bring them on.

"But I will try to go with a pretty strong team.

"I want to win the competition and I don't want to take any chances.

"I have seen that happen over the years, and we will not do that."

Which means that the likes of Rabiu Ibrahim – who has been on the bench for the last two SPL games – will have to wait for the chance to make his first start since signing at the start of this year.

The much-travelled 21-year-old Nigerian has played only 16 minutes – against St Johnstone at the end of last season – but Lennon has indicated his chance will come soon.

The Hoops boss said: "He has had five or six weeks out, and had a bounce game last Monday which was his first game for months.

"It is good to have him. He needs a bit of football in him, but, whether we can give him that opportunity or not, we will have to wait and see.

"I couldn't do that on Saturday with the score the way it was.

"If it had been a bit more comfortable, maybe I would have thrown him on.

"But, it is good to have him back, and he is another body that is in the squad now."

Ibrahim's chequered past hints at a reluctance to be satisfied with a place on the sidelines.

But Lennon has seen no signs of impatience from the midfielder.

He said: "We think he is a good footballer, but we just haven't seen enough of it because injuries have curtailed him.

"There may be an opportunity to give him a run out against Raith Rovers, and we will have a look at that.

"I want to try and keep everyone match-fit for when I need them.

"But, at the same time, I can't take my eye off the ball in terms of putting out a winning team, and that's why the training is quite intense."

Lennon will have to make changes after Saturday's victory over Dundee. Scott Brown will be rested, while Lassad Nouioui has joined Miku, Mikael Lustig and Georgios Samaras on the injured list.

But Beram Kayal and Joe Ledley are in the squad after recovering from the problems which have sidelined them in recent weeks, while Paddy McCourt is also in contention for a start along with Efe Ambrose.