Opportunity for Rangers as Dedryk Boyata concedes a foul on the edge of the area... 

Celtic winger Patrick Roberts dances away from a couple of Rangers challenges to play in striker Leigh Griffiths. The forward screws an effort wide of goal but more encouraging signs for Ronny Deila's men.  

Chris McLaughlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

"The usual frantic start from both sides. Tackles flying in and end to end action. Kenny Miller with the best chance so far - low drive and good stop from Craig Gordon. Both sides look keen to settle down but the atmosphere just won't let them."

Richard Wilson
BBC Scotland at Hampden

"Mark Warburton has made his critical decision by selecting Dean Shiels to play on the right of his front three, in the absence of the injured Harry Forrester. How Shiels performs in an unfamiliar role to him will influence Rangers' chances. For Celtic, the selection was more straightforward, but the question is Ronny Deila's side can execute their game plan as effectively as they have in the past. Midfield will be the vital area of the pitch, probably where the game will be won and lost and most likely where the ferocity and combativeness will be played out. The atmosphere, too, must also be handle by both sides - so nerve will be a factor..."

Celtic will feel they should be ahead. Stefan Johansen is at the heart of an impressive move and the ball breaks to skipper Scott Brown in the penalty area.

The midfielder fizzes a shot across Wes Foderingham and narrowly wide of the far post. 

Rangers are getting a lot of joy down Celtic's right flank as Mark Warburton's men seek to make their impressive early start play dividends. Ronny Deila will be concerned at how cheaply his side are giving away possession. It remains goalless just shy of the 10-minute mark. 

Kenny Miller comes within a whisker of firing Rangers in front. The veteran striker moves  onto collect a through ball that slices the Celtic defence in half but his fierce effort is brilliantly saved by Craig Gordon.

Patrick Roberts, with his first touch of the ball, speeds away from his blue pursuers like Richard Hannay galloping across the Borders. The winger makes decent inroads into Rangers territory but Celtic can't get an effort on target after forcing a throw-in.

Mark Warburton's men have started in impressive fashion, forcing an early corner. But Dedryk Boyata clears the danger for Celtic. 

Celtic then launch a counter attack but Leigh Griffiths sees a promising move fizzle out.

A frenetic start as Gary Mackay-Steven chops down Jason Holt in the centre circle. Referee Craig Thomson has a quiet word with the Celtic winger but no early booking.

Hang onto your hots. Here we go! Celtic get us under way.

The players are out on the pitch. Handshakes and pleasantries exchanged before a ball is kicked in anger.

Mist from smoke bombs battle for our attention with the late April sunshine.

“You need to be on the edge a little bit but you have got to be careful.  In this day and age the likes of myself and Tom Boyd would have been sent off in the first five minutes.

“These days it is about keeping all 11 men on the park to give yourselves a chance.”

Bring The Thunderpublished at 11:55

11:55

Rangers v Celtic (12:00 BST)

Not long to go until kick off. The sun is splitting the sky over Hampden as the national stadium begins to rumble to the sound of both sets of supporters trading songs. Grab a comfy spot; we're nearly there... 

Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

“We’ve had the phoney war for weeks so now we can stop the chat and see what the players on the field come up with.

“Celtic are certainly hot favourites and in Leigh Griffiths, with his pace and trickiness, they have a striker who is better by a distance than anyone the Rangers defence will have come across this season.

“Unless Rangers produce their absolute best stuff and Celtic have a mental implosion, I think Celtic will win by a couple of goals.”

Chris McLaughlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

"The nervous tension inside Hampden is burst with a sudden chorus of cheers from both sets of fans and the Southside of Glasgow rocks. The players make their way up the tunnel for a final team talk. We're almost ready to go..."

"Our focus is to go there and hopefully we have a good open game of football. That's what we want. 

"We hope it's a real spectacle for the fans watching. There will be a global audience and we're going there looking to play, looking to get on the ball, looking to enjoy possession, looking to be positive when we go forward. 

"So will Ronny and his team. We know we're up against a really strong team. They're the Premiership champions. We respect them." 

Image source, SNS