Caley Thistle manager John Hughes knows all about the atmosphere at Celtic Park and the psychological factors that can swing a game.
Inverness travel to Parkhead today as joint leaders of the Premiership – three points above Ronny Deila’s Hoops.
Hughes, who spent just over a year with Celtic in his playing days, has urged his players to rise to the challenge of facing the champions.
He said: “I’ve taken the players through the scenario of winning the game in the tunnel.
“Having had the experience of playing at Parkhead, I’ve seen that.
“What Parkhead and that environment brings is a trepidation and an anxiety. It’s only you that puts that on yourself and the only reason it comes is because you’ve not got great belief, trust and confidence in your own ability.
“You can certainly lose a game in the tunnel. I always remember at Parkhead the first time we played Falkirk. My best mate in football is Neil Oliver – I played with him at Berwick and we were centre halves at Brockville together.
“The first time Falkirk came to Celtic he was looking for that wee wink, that handshake or that bit of comfort from me.
“He was just looking for that wee bit of relief from me but it was just the stare, tunnel-vision and right into the game. That’s what happens at Celtic.”
Inverness are looking to defeat Celtic twice in the same season for the first time after their 1-0 win at Caledonian Stadium in August but Hughes sees no reason to treat this game differently.
Hughes added: “We’re going to have to stand up to the atmosphere and the only way the players can do it is by passing the ball and having confidence in their own ability. We’re probably playing against the best players in Scotland but what a great challenge that is. Let’s see where it takes us.”