GLASGOW: Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies doesn't believe his side's clash with Aberdeen on Friday will have any bearing on their forthcoming clash in the Scottish Cup final.
The Scottish Premiership's top two sides will meet for the fifth time this season when champions Celtic make the trip to Pittodrie, just 15 days before their meeting at Hampden.
With the Premiership title already in the bag for Celtic and Aberdeen all but guaranteed second spot, both sets of players could be forgiven for lacking motivation for the match at Pittodrie.
However, the Hoops still have the added incentive of maintaining their unbeaten domestic record –- standing at 43 matches –- and the chance to surpass the club record of 103 points, set by Martin O'Neill's side in 2001-02.
And Davies, whose side have won their previous four encounters with the Dons this campaign, doesn't believe his players will slack off as they attempt to end the season undefeated.
"We wouldn't ever link this game to the Scottish Cup final," Celtic's assistant manager said.
"A week is a long time in football and there are two weeks between the league game and the Scottish Cup final.
"We look at this as an individual game. It's a very difficult place to get a result at and they've had a very strong season, so all credit to them for that.
"Aberdeen are a very competitive side and a team with decent physicality. We know it will be a difficult game and we know the pitch won't be quite as slick as Hampden.
"But we've been up there and won already this season, and we've beaten them a few other times as well, so we're confident that we know what to do in the game. Now it's just about the final preparation and hopefully we can get the result."
Aberdeen are all that stand in the way of Celtic completing a first treble in 16 years. And Dons defender Anthony O'Connor has urged his side to use Friday's clash to give his side a psychological boost before the sides meet again at the national stadium on May 27.
"With the Scottish Cup final coming up against Celtic this is the chance for us to lay down a marker," the Aberdeen player said.
"It is always a tough game against Celtic but we will be going out to win it like we do in every match we play.
"If we can bring our tenacity and fight to Celtic I am sure we can be more than a match for them.
"It would be nice to stop that unbeaten record."
Elsewhere on Saturday, Rangers host Hearts knowing that they need just one point to secure third place in their first season back in the country's top flight.
The Gers, who last week guaranteed themselves a Europa League spot thanks to a 2-1 over Partick Thistle, will be without a host of players for the match against Ian Cathro's side.
Injured on-loan duo Emerson Hyndman and Jon Toral have returned to parent clubs Bournemouth and Arsenal respectively, while skipper Lee Wallace looks set to miss the rest of the season as he recovers from stomach surgery.
Fixtures
Friday
Aberdeen v Celtic (1845 GMT)
Saturday
Rangers v Hearts (1115 GMT), Dundee v Ross County, Hamilton v Motherwell, Kilmarnock v Inverness CT, St Johnstone v Partick Thistle (all 1400 GMT)