Celtic are growing in momentum now as Leigh Griffiths fizzes in a good shot and it needs a flying save from Ryan Esson to keep it out.

James Forrest goes down in a heap after cutting into the penalty area. It looked like the Celtic winger lost his footing as Ryan Christie stuck out a leg.

A short corner routine appears to fizzle out for Celtic but the ball breaks to Nir Bitton 25 yards from goal and the Israeli hammers a fantastic, first-time strike against the junction of post and crossbar.

All that talk of "keeping the backdoor shut" from manager John Hughes had me thinking Inverness might be a bit cagey but not a bit of it, the team in blue are piling forward at every opportunity and look very comfortable in possession.

Celtic midfielder Stefan Johansen strides forward and decides to let fly from 20 yards but in comes a sliding defender in blue to make a good block.

Inverness continue to press with a couple of crosses into the penalty area and there are muted claims for a handball as a Marley Watkins header strikes Emilio Izaguirre. On second viewing, the ball hit the defender's knee and face.

It's a wasted journey for the Inverness defenders as Greg Tansey curls a shot over the crossbar from 22 yards.

Inverness win a free kick in a dangerous area after Adam Matthews is late in on Graeme Shinnie. Up come the big men...

Daniel Yahia: "Massive match today. Vitally important in the quest for the treble. Up the Celts! #bbcscotfootball"

tom and 20 others: "I've spent all mrn watching re-runs of y/day's semifinal hightlights, in the hope #Hibs will eventually manage 2 score. #bbcscotfootball"

A blast of the whistle from referee Steven McLean, and we're off...

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have packed a lot into their 20-year history but they have yet to reach a Scottish Cup final. This is their third semi-final appearance, following back-to-back disappointments in 2003 and 2004.

They did, of course, enjoy a memorable semi-final victory last season, coming from behind in the last seconds against Hearts despite being down to nine men then holding out in extra time to win on penalties in the League Cup. However, spot-kicks were not so kind to them in the final against Aberdeen.

The teams are are out at Hampden. Not long to go now...

Celtic manager Ronny Deila

Image source, SNS Group

"I don't think playing them last week is a problem.

"They know what they are going to meet and we know we are going to meet.

"We think we know where we can hurt them, but they are one of the teams that like to control games.

"We have to do everything we can not to let them do that."

Inverness CT manager John Hughes

Image source, SNS Group

"The shape of the team is slightly different today. What this team has given me has been remarkable and they deserve this opportunity.

"I think this is a second home for Celtic, they were here last month winning the League Cup. We will need to keep the back door shut if we are to have a chance because we know Celtic can turn anyone over on their day."

A closer look at the overall head-to-head record will have Celtic fans breathing a little easier, given they have enjoyed wins in 27 of the 39 meetings and lost just six.

Looking for a 37th Scottish Cup triumph, Ronny Deila's men start as strong favourites for this one but yesterday's semi-final served up a funny old game since Hibs battered Falkirk for long periods only to be undone by the Bairns' only real effort on goal. But, then again, that was Hibs who are always dreaming up new ways to torture their fans in this competition.

There have been other notable wins for Inverness in this fixture, including a 3-2 home victory in May 2011 which cost Neil Lennon the title in his first full season in charge at Celtic, while the games this season have all been very close encounters.

Just last weekend the teams shared the spoils in a scruffy 1-1 draw, while there has been a 1-0 success for each side.

Image source, SNS Group

In a feat of will power that I suspect may be beyond current ICT management duo John Hughes and Russell Latapy, Charlie Christie is in today's newspapers revealing that he still has his man-of-the-match bottle of champagne from that win at Celtic Park 15 years ago!

He says he won't open it until his son, Ryan [playing today], wins a Scotland cap but surely he will be tempted to pop the ageing cork if his team go on to lift the cup in May.

Inverness CT have enjoyed a few famous wins against Celtic, causing two major 21st Century Scottish Cup shocks along the way.

The first of those came in February 2000 when the Highlanders, then a part-time side in the First Division, managed a remarkable 3-1 victory in Glasgow, which resulted in one of the best newspaper headlines of all time and cost John Barnes his job as Celtic boss.

Three years later, an altogether more successful manager, Martin O'Neill, felt the sting of quarter-final defeat at the Caledonian Stadium.

Celtic appear to be cruising serenely towards a domestic clean sweep but if there is one team that can bring their supporters out in a cold sweat of trepidation it's today's opponents.

Image source, SNS Group

The inclusion of Leigh Griffiths is no surprise. The Celtic striker skelped in a great early goal at Inverness last weekend and added three more as a second-half substitute against Kilmarnock.