Dougie Imrie says 'you never know' when it comes to cup competition as the Morton manager looks to repeat history at Celtic Park.
Celtic will be looking to keep their hopes of a potential domestic treble alive with the fourth-round visit of the Scottish Championship side on Saturday. The Hoops will also play rivals Rangers in the Viaplay Cup final next month, but focus must be on the Scottish Cup heading in to the weekend.
The Morton gaffer has fresh in his mind the historic 1-0 victory over the Hoops in 2013 that saw Imrie net a penalty in extra time, incidentally after now Ton star Efe Ambrose handled the ball in the area, to seal a huge upset against Neil Lennon's men. And the Hamilton Accies hero believes his squad can take confidence from that night and believes 'anything can happen' in the cup.
READ MORE: Celtic hero Paul Lambert refuses to rule out manager return in Scotland and willing to go abroad
He exclusively told Glasgow Live Sport: "It's a great game to look forward to. They play with so much energy and drive but that's credit to Ange Postecoglou. He's been a breath of fresh air to Scottish football.
"We know the task at hand and must give them the respect they are due but we have to go there and play our own way. I've been there as a player so you have to try and enjoy it. There's a million ways to skin a cat so the question is do you go there, sit in and apply pressure?
"We don't want to play our football that way - parking the bus. We want to try and enjoy it and that's the message to the players. It's a cup tie and the fans could get nervous. We will get opportunities in the game, you always do against the big teams. Saturday will be no different.
"If the tie was here [Cappielow] it would have been unnerving for Celtic. Celtic Park there's big dressing rooms, 60000 fans behind them but you come here and it's totally different. The ball never stops for them at home, they're used to it. Even with the ball boys getting involved when the ball goes out of play. That's why we need to be really switched on.
"We've had a good season even though people had written us off. We've shown we're a good side and I want the boys to go there with belief and not to go in to a shell thinking 'I watch them every week on the TV'. It is eleven vs eleven, one ball and two goals."
Imrie remembers that September night in 2013 fondly, and says he still can't believe the talent on the pitch that night that saw Morton pull off a historic win.
He added: "It was great to win that game, it's a shame we didn't go on to achieve something as St Johnstone knocked us out in the next round. Pressure wise it was up there with the big moments of my career. The fans were on our case, extra time and the chance to go one nil up. The manager at the time believed in me to go and take the spot-kick and I stuck it away.
"Winning 1-0 against some top players like Van Dijk, the likes of Kris Commons and Scott Brown and of course Neil Lennon being the manager. We can take strength from that result - I know it was ten years ago now but we need to believe. There's no games guaranteed - everyone had written Morton off that night.
"Celtic will have a lot of the ball on Saturday but we can stay in our shape and hopefully frustrate them. You never know. Football is weird at times."
READ NEXT:
- Celtic hero Tom Rogic grabs FA Cup goal after punishing BACK-HEEL with delightful West Brom finish
- Gordon Strachan in Celtic Rangers VAR title decider verdict as he makes 'new toy' claim
