Caley a Cup danger to Celtic, says Mjallby

Johan Mjallby has warned his Celtic players they still have plenty to do if they are to capture a domestic treble as they prepare to meet Inverness Caledonian Thistle in their Scottish Cup quarterfinal clash.

The Hoops dispatched Rangers in a fiery Old Firm fixture last week to set up a tie with Terry Butcher's side at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium on Sunday.

Following their win over their Glasgow rivals confidence is high amongst the Celtic support that their side can complete a domestic clean sweep this term.

Manager Neil Lennon hasn't spoken to the media since the Hoops' explosive win at Parkhead after his touchline clash with Rangers assistant Ally McCoist landed him with a four-match ban from the dugout.

However despite knocking their main rivals for the Scottish Cup out of the competition, Celtic assistant boss Mjallby says his players can't afford to be complacent against Inverness.

"We know that is a danger," Mjallby said. "But we have a lot of respect for Inverness and found out in the first game of the season up there how tough they can make it for you and, of course, they fought back to take a point at Parkhead in November.

"In the last 12 weeks, we have played really well and been on a good run, apart from the day we lost at Motherwell.

"But we don't need to be reminded that we need to work hard to maintain this level, because every club that we play has got so much to play for.

"They have a few players who can hurt us, so we will have to be spot on.

"But that's brilliant. We know it's going to be a hard game. That's what you are going to get in the quarter-final of a cup, and that's what you want to have because it keeps everyone on their toes."

The last time the two sides met in cup competition Celtic had little trouble disposing of Caley when they thrashed the Highland side 6-0 in the League Cup back in September.

However Inverness have proved to be a bogey team for the Hoops in the Scottish Cup, notching up a couple of famous victories in the competition over the Parkhead side.

Most notably, Caley dumped a buoyant Celtic side out in 2003, just a few days after they had defeated Liverpool at Anfield to continue their surge towards the final of that year's UEFA Cup.

"We were on a real high after beating Liverpool to go through in the UEFA Cup. That was perhaps an example of why you have to be fully focused at all times," Mjallby said.

"We can't switch off at any time. We can't be complacent, and I will be very surprised if any of our players have those thoughts because this is the quarter-final of the cup."

Celtic will be without defender Daniel Majstorovic after the Swedish international broke a toe in Saturday's win over Hamilton, as well as long-term injuries Shaun Maloney and Cha Du-Ri.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Aberdeen, looking to get to their second semi-final of the season, face a tough trip away to St Mirren while Second Division Brechin City, who have made it to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals for the first time ever, welcome SPL opponents St Johnstone to Glebe Park.

On Sunday Scottish Cup holders Dundee United continue their quest of retaining the trophy when they welcome Motherwell to Tannadice.

Fixtures

Saturday:

St Mirren v Aberdeen (1215), Brechin v St Johnstone

Sunday:

Dundee United v Motherwell (1315), Inverness CT v Celtic (1530)