Celtic could introduce a new defender to the first team but will be without at least two from the team that lost at Kilmarnock in midweek. Andreas Hinkel and Jos Hooiveld have both been ruled out of the cup tie at Dunfermline after picking up injuries on Tuesday night.

Edson Braafheid is set to make his debut after completing his loan move from Bayern Munich and Robbie Keane will get his first taste of the Scottish Cup after making his first start for Celtic on Tuesday.

That 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock heaped the pressure on Celtic boss Tony Mowbray and his players but he said there would be no nerves on show in the cup game. Though the manager has insisted his side can catch Rangers in the SPL title race, the knock-out competition provides Celtic with their best chance of silverware this season.

"I don't think there are any nerves," Mowbray said. "If you break down Tuesday night, it was a game very similar to what we've been seeing for the last couple of weeks or so - or probably longer.

"We'd got lots of the ball, lots of chances, lots of possession, lots of positive play and, yet, we didn't quite get the result.

"We go to Dunfermline understanding that we'll probably have slightly more of the ball than they will; we'll probably create more chances than they will but ultimately it doesn't guarantee the result. So, we've got to work extremely hard and try to make sure that our positive play is rewarded with a victory."
 
Dunfermline had a convoluted route to the fifth round tie. After beating Stenhousemuir 7-1 in the last round, the First Division side were revealed to have fielded an ineligible player. After an SFA hearing further rule breaches were uncovered and the club were expelled from the competition.

An appeal was successful in overturning the ban but a fine was levied and a replay ordered. The Pars won 2-1 after extra-time to set up the clash with the Glasgow giants.

Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre has selection decisions to make ahead of the game. Midfielder Gary Mason is short of match fitness and Sam Morrow was not registered in time for the competition. Steven Glass and Graham Bayne are both injured and will not make the match-day squad.
 
McIntyre admitted his side faced a tough task and said he hoped that his players would enjoy good fortune as well as playing to their best.

“We will look to take the game to them and hope it`s good enough on the day,” he said."We will need a slice of luck, you always do when you are playing against the Old Firm."
 

Provisional Celtic squad: Boruc, Thompson, O'Dea, Loovens, Naylor, Braafheid, NGuemo, Caddis, McGinn, Zheng, Brown, Ki, Crosas, McGeady, Samaras, Rasmussen, Fortune, Zaluska, Kamara, Keane, McGowan.

Dunfermline squad news to follow.