Caley Thistle go in search of making history today as they try to beat Celtic twice in the same season.
After a stuttering start to the current campaign, Ronny Deila’s Hoops have found some form, winning their last four games and scoring 15 goals in the process. But Inverness are also in confident mood just now and sit joint top of the table – three points ahead of this afternoon’s hosts – having beaten Celtic 1-0 at the Caledonian Stadium in August.
Caley Jags vice-captain Graeme Shinnie has been standing in as captain since March due to Richie Foran’s injury-enforced absence – and Shinnie sees no reason to be overawed by the task his side faces in Glasgow’s east end this afternoon.
Shinnie said: “We’re trying to keep them away from our preparations and just focus on what we want to do. If we can do that, we’ll certainly have a chance.
“They’ve had a good run of results but then again so have we. That’s what we’re trying to do, focus on our own game and focus on what we want to do.
“Most of the boys have experienced Parkhead. Fair enough, if it’s your first time there could be a wee bit of trepidation.
“But the boys have been there and done it. The 1-0 win against them here would have helped a few of them and now it’s just a case of going there, showing what we’ve got and expressing our talent.”
Despite the respective league positions of today’s Parkhead protagonists, Celtic are clear favourites to grab their revenge.
But Shinnie has set his sights on making it as uncomfortable an afternoon as possible for the champions.
He said: “In any away game, I think what we want to do is frustrate the home supporters.
“Hopefully, they frustrate their team and it can benefit us.
“That’s the way we’ll want to go against Celtic. We want to frustrate them, limit them to chances, be a hard team to beat and go and do our thing up the other end of the pitch.”
The Caley Thistle vice-captain added: “Every time I’ve been there at Celtic Park, it’s been a different kind of atmosphere.
“It depends on the way the game goes. If they’re winning by a couple of goals, they’ll be loud. But if we can get ourselves a goal up and silence them they’ll be a bit quieter.”