Celtic make their first trip to Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon, where they face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Sitting pretty three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, Brendan Rodgers' side will look to book their place in the final, due to take place on May 25 - a fitting date for a cup final. Their opponents - finishing in the bottom six this season - are currently ninth, though they drew 1-1 with their opponents the last time the teams faced off back in February.

To get to this stage, Celtic have had to fend off Buckie Thistle, St Mirren and Livingston, whilst Aberdeen dispatched Clyde, Bonnyrigg Rose and Kilmarnock to book their place at the national stadium. A fixture that has taken place numerous times at Hampden, it is sure to be an extremely eventful afternoon, as both sides look to advance into the final.

With all of that being said, who will Rodgers elect to start in Saturday's big match? The Celtic Way's Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty each have their say...

Ryan McGinlay

A Hampden date is always something to get excited about. However, it is a bonus that Celtic are hitting form at the right time, at the business end of the season.

Three points clear at the Premiership's summit, this semi-final will be a welcomed distraction for Rodgers and his side, as they look to complete a domestic double to cap off what has been a rollercoaster season for the club in every possible way.

Because of this, the manager will call upon the cavalry to charge at the Dons straight from the off. Hoping to add another two trophies to his impressive CV, Joe Hart will start in between the sticks for Celtic, as he will hope to end his playing career in style. Just in front of him, Cameron Carter-Vickers will assume his usual place in the centre of defence, where he will be partnered by Maik Nawrocki, who played 60 minutes last week against St Mirren. This has got to be the starting central pairing from now until the end of the season, as the Poland defender needs a run of games to show what he can do. On either defensive flank, Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston will provide the width from left and right back respectively. The latter is Celtic's in-form player at the moment and will be relied upon again to start attacks and get the team forward when on the ball. 

In the midfield, Tomoki Iwata will be replaced by the captain, as Callum McGregor will return to the starting line-up for the first time since his injury. His leadership and experience will be vitally important in Celtic's effort to progress to the final, so he has to start. If the game is finished within 60 minutes, then take him off in place of the unfortunate Iwata, who has not put a foot wrong in recent weeks. Further forward in the midfield, Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley will be tasked with being the more creative men in the middle, as both have won before at this stadium. However, both will be looking to score their first goal at Hampden for the club, despite having impressed in these surroundings.

Now for my hot-take, as Adam Idah will lead the line in place of Kyogo Furuhashi. The Hampden pitch will be ripe for the Irishman to attack and take advantage of, though I would not be surprised if the Japan talisman gets the nod instead. Let's be honest, it is a great position for Rodgers to be in. On the left, Luis Palma will be given his first start since returning from injury, whilst on the right Nicolas Kuhn will be handed another opportunity to positively influence proceedings from the get-go.

Despite their placing in the league, this is going to be a difficult tie for Celtic to negotiate. However, Rodgers' side will have the game wrapped up in 90 minutes, despite the Dons' best efforts. Celtic to win by two clear goals.

Ryan's team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O'Riley; Kuhn, Idah, Palma

Tony Haggerty

"I think this is where Celtic comes alive as a club." The words of Rodgers in the aftermath of last week's 3-0 Scottish Premiership victory over St Mirren.

Celtic and Rodgers still have a League and Scottish Cup double to chase. The Northern Irishman will send his charges out and he will see just how alive his players are against Aberdeen in this semi-final tie as they defend his proud record of never having lost at Hampden Park before.

It's been a good week seven days for Celtic after the champions carved out a three-point lead at the top of the table without actually kicking a ball.

This sem-final clash represents a good distraction from the pressure of defending their title as they look to book their place in the showpiece event of the season on Saturday, May 25. If you know you're history and all that Celtic like that date in the sporting calendar.

Hart will start between the posts for the men in green and white and he will be ably assisted by a back four of Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki and Taylor. The Polish centre-back will be handed a redemption shot after Bojan Miovski gave him the runaround at Pittodrie in February.

In the midfield, the $64,000 question revolves around captain McGregor. Is he fully fit or not? He has played cameo roles against Rangers and St Mirren but the engine room has coped well in his absence. Celtic do have bigger games on the horizon concerning the title race and it remains to be seen if the skipper will be risked in a game of such magnitude.

There is no substitute for McGregor's leadership and experience as well as the fact he likes a goal at Hampden too but it might be best to build up his fitness levels game-by-game. The call will be a midfield trio of Hatate who is getting stronger, fitter and better with every game, his goal against St Mirren was a thing of beauty. Hatate's compatriot Iwata will sit in deep and repel any Aberdeen attacks and Danish international O'Riley will be given free rein to get up in support of the front three.

Who will the front three be? I hear you ask. Well, Rodgers may well turn to experience for this one. Call the Hampden specialist Forrest who has five goals at the national stadium to his name. The 32-year-old evergreen winger starts this one as he aims for a bit of a swansong.  He will be asked to provide the ammunition for Kyogo who loves the vast expanses of Hampden and has goals galore to prove it. Kuhn will be the other winger and it is a toss-up to see who starts on which flank. Forrest to start on the right with Kuhn on the left but that is a fluid system and it is very much interchangeable. Don't rule out Idah from having a major say and impact on proceedings but he will have to do so from the bench.

Celtic to come alive in Mount Florida and as the manager said at Ibrox: "This is the business end of the season. We are ready to turn up."

And turn up they will Celtic to win by at least three clear goals.

Tony's team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Taylor; Iwata, Hatate, O'Riley; Forrest, Kyogo, Kuhn