CELTIC will not look for grounds for complaint about the condition of the Hampden pitch tomorrow - even though it is already in poor condition and expected to cut up even worse when Rangers meet Falkirk there tonight.

CELTIC will not look for grounds for complaint about the condition of the Hampden pitch tomorrow - even though it is already in poor condition and expected to cut up even worse when Rangers meet Falkirk there tonight.

The decision to play back-to-back Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-finals on the pitch at this time of year is already being criticised.

A new surface can be laid and ready to play on within five days. But this costs around £100,000 and was last done at Hampden in 2004.

Hoops boss Gordon Strachan saw the surface last week when he took in Queen's Park's Scottish Cup replay against Peterhead. But he will tell his players to plough on regardless of the conditions.

Striker Scott McDonald has promised to follow those instructions and admitted he's prepared for the worst.

The Aussie hitman said: "Generally, any time I've been to Hampden, even when we played against Queen's Park in the Cup with Motherwell, I don't think I've played on it when it has been any good.

"So I'd not be surprised if it wasn't very good this time, with the weather at this time of year and the games being played on it before we get there.

"But that is something we have to deal with. We're all professionals and there are no excuses about pitches because it is the same for both teams."

Strachan is doing his best not to place negative thoughts in the minds of his players. Attempting to suppress his concerns, he selected his words carefully when asked about the conditions and said: "For a National Stadium, I was expecting better than what I found when I went there last week. But, to be fair, the weather has been poor."

David Kells, managing director of National Stadium Ltd, confirmed the present surface has been in place for five years, but is backing it to stand up to two semi-finals.

He said: "Assuming the weather is okay, the pitch will be able to handle these games, though obviously a pitch in January is not as good as it would be in May or June."

Kells confirmed there is a possibility the pitch could be replaced, but not until the start of next season in preparation for the final World Cup qualifiers.

He said: "We have a lot of concerts planned for this summer, and if they all happen then we will look to relay the pitch and put in a new sprinkler system for the start of next season."