Little to learn from Pittodrie clash

Tonight’s trip to Aberdeen will have no bearing on Celtic’s Scottish Cup final clash later in the month, according to boss Brendan Rodgers.

The Premiership champions will try to keep their unbeaten domestic record intact at Pittodrie when they take on the second-placed Dons, who they will face again in the season’s showpiece finale at Hampden Park on May 27.

Celtic have beaten Aberdeen three times in the league and also in the Betfred Cup final this season as they have racked up 43 games without defeat against Scottish opposition since the start of the season.

Rodgers said: “I don’t think you can read anything into it in terms of preparation for the final.

“It is the fifth time we will have played each other, it is obviously at Pittodrie which is a notoriously tough place to go but it is a game we are looking forward to.

“But it will have no relevance on the Scottish Cup final. Our idea is to peak for that.

“We have three more league games that we want to finish well and this will be a real good examination of our qualities but it will have no relevance to the outcome of that (final) game.”

Celtic skipper Scott Brown serves the second of a two-match suspension while striker Moussa Dembele remains out with a hamstring injury which leaves him a doubt for the final.

Defender Mikael Lustig returns to the squad after being rested for last weekend’s home win over St Johnstone.

Brendan Rodgers: expects ‘a real good examination’ of Celtic’s qualities.