Celtic are on the cusp of greatness once again.

With the SPFL Premiership all but wrapped up this season for Ange Postecoglou’s men, the Hoops are back in domestic cup action as they look to book their place in the Scottish Cup final ahead of their fiercest rivals Rangers.

The Ibrox side have yet to defeat Celtic in all competitions this season in four fixtures thus far with the Bhoys winning three of those encounters, a 2-2 draw at Ibrox the solitary occasion where Rangers have managed to avoid defeat.

The winner of Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs Falkirk in the other tie awaits the winner of this fixture with the Hoops looking to achieve an eighth domestic treble, a new world record in the process.

Postecoglou will have some thinking to do with regards to his starting line-up as Jota, Reo Hatate and Liel Abada have all resumed first-team training this past week. All three have shone on previous derby days so their return could give the Australian a selection headache in the lead-up to Sunday’s crunch tie.

So who will the manager pick? Our writers have their say…

Sean Martin

Easy one this, no? Well it would be if everybody was fit and firing or if everybody was crocked.

But they're not, so it isn't (easy that is). Let's start with the 'certainties' though. Joe Hart in goal, a back four of Alistair Johnston on the right, Greg Taylor on the left and Cameron Carter-Vickers - despite his sluggish display against Motherwell - and Carl Starfelt in the middle.

Up front, Jota is fit so as much as I've been advocating to see more Sead Haksabanovic, I don't see any other frontline except Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda.

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Midfield is a different matter though. There are certainties there for sure - Callum McGregor, clearly, as well as Matt O'Riley who has played himself back to the fore. 

But who else starts? Hatate would be nailed on but after playing just 12 minutes against Hibernian on March 18 he hasn't featured due to injury.  

Aaron Mooy and Tomoki Iwata each have their merits but Hatate is, well, Hatate. I reckon he gets the start given he was one of Postecoglou's most trusted selections until his injury - and the manager says clear as day he is fit and available.

Sean’s team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda

Tony Haggerty

His name is Reo and will he dance on the Hampden sand... well turf to be exact? My gut reaction says yes.

So with that in mind the rest of the side picks itself as Celtic attempt to grab a shot at glory with both hands.

The winner of this clash knows that they already have one hand on the silverware. For Celtic that would mean a world record eighth domestic treble. That's all talk for June 3 - assuming, of course, Celtic get there.

For now Hart will take his usual occupancy in goal. Johnston and Taylor will be the right and left full-backs with Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt centre-back respectively.

McGregor will be deployed in the midfield alongside Hatate and the man that is bang in form O'Riley and Iwata will have to be content with a role from the bench.

Up front what a platform for Kyogo to make it a milestone 30 for the season and take his tally to six in his last four games against the Hoops' city rivals. Double-denim Jota will return to the starting fold on the right wing and Maeda will be deployed on the left flank. 

The stage is set for Celtic to extend their unbeaten run to five matches against the Light Blues... and that's what will happen.

Tony’s team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O'Riley; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda

Celtic Way:

Aidan Macdonald

Postecoglou has several key calls to make but it is likely he will only make one change.

Hart is likely to start between the sticks for the Hoops as he remains the number-one choice at the club.

Johnston will continue his sensational run of form as he begins the match at right-back. The centre of defence will see the partnership that has lost only one domestic fixture together, Carter-Vickers and Starfelt, feature. Taylor will start at left-back, hoping to repeat the feat of scoring in last season's Scottish Cup semi-final.

McGregor will anchor the team from the number six position and he will be joined by Hatate, who will take the place of O'Riley in one of the eight roles. Iwata will take up the other forward position in the middle of the park.

In terms of the front three, Jota will start off the right-hand side, Kyogo will lead the line through the middle and Maeda will begin the game on the left wing.

Aidan’s team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Iwata, Hatate; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda

Ryan McGinlay

Postecoglou certainly has a selection dilemma on his hands. Does he go with the uninjured individuals who have been playing consistently, or will he fling some of those who have been out back into the mixer?

For me, I think he will go with a mix of the two. The goalkeeper and defence pick themselves at this stage but the midfield is where things are certainly interesting from a predictions point of view.

Iwata has definitely impressed in the 11 games he has appeared in thus far, including his two appearances against Rangers, so I think he will start, meaning that McGregor will play alongside him in the middle of the park.

For the most advanced midfielder, I believe O’Riley will continue his run of starts for the Bhoys as he slowly but surely gets back to the early form that earned him rave reviews when he arrived at Celtic.

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Two of the three positions are already selected in the attack. Maeda’s defensive capabilities and work-rate make him a certainty for this fixture and Kyogo’s recent goal record against Sunday’s opposition ensures that the striker will lead the line against Rangers. I fully expect Jota to return from injury and play on the right-hand side of the attack.

In an ideal world, Hatate would take his place in the heart of the midfield but I think he will be on the bench for this one. We know that a less than 100 per cent Hatate can struggle in games and perhaps a cameo appearance off of the bench would be a good way to integrate the mercurial midfielder back into the squad.

Ryan’s team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; Iwata, McGregor, O'Riley; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda

Remember to check The Celtic Way on matchdays for detailed player ratings & post-match analysis.