HOOPS BOSS PLAYS DOWN CLASH WITH TITLE RIVALS

Ange Postecoglou insists a Celtic win over chasing Hearts tonight will have no more significance than three cinch Premiership points.

The Hoops sit in second place in the table, two points ahead of the Jambos, whose boss Robbie Neilson and his players are viewing the trip to Glasgow as chance to leapfrog their opponents.

Asked if he saw the match as an opportunity instead to widen the gap between the two sides, Postecoglou said: “I think my players are just looking forward to a game at Celtic Park, playing our football and winning.

“Statement games are at the back end of the season. Let’s just keep our pistols in our holsters for a little while.

“We are just going to play each game as we have so far. I have said a few times, you can get distracted by so many shiny objects everywhere.

“What we want to do is make sure that when we play our football on a game day we are ready for that challenge, because if you start thinking that somehow a result tomorrow gets you something shiny and glittery you lose focus on what is important.

“Our form has been good because we have been concentrating on and respecting every opponent and that is what we will do tomorrow as well.”

Postecoglou, who will have Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic fit and available again, did acknowledge the qualities of the Tynecastle side, who beat Celtic 2-1 in Gorgie in the first game of the league season.

Hearts drew 1-1 with Rangers on their last visit to Glasgow in October and striker Liam Boyce felt the way they played that day proves they should not be fazed by either of the big two.

He said: “With the quality we have in our side, we believe we can hurt any team in the league. The Rangers match showed that to me even more.

“In the first half we were alright but they took a 1-0 lead. For about 20 minutes of the second half, I would say we were the better team and we should have scored from open play before Halks (Craig Halkett) came up with the equaliser in the 90th minute.”