Motherwell manager Steven Hammell has been giving his pre-match thoughts on BBC Sportsound.

"It was just before I retired," he said when asked about the 2017 League Cup final when Celtic beat Motherwell.

"I've been to Hampden a few times with the team and just fallen short. It's something we want to do well in this season, we made no secret of that when we came in.

"It's a tough task tonight, but the goal and accolades at the end of it are worthwhile. The aim of the game is to be as positive as we can and get through. We need to be the best version of ourselves we can be.

"They've made five changes tonight and it's not really a weaker team so that's what we're up against. We understand that.

"But the boys that have come in Blair [Spittal] and Connor [Shields] have got a real intensity and enthusiasm about their play and hopefully we see that.

Celtic manager Ange Posteocglou on BBC Sportsound: "The nature of the football club is we're expected to win these competitions.

"It's a good challenge for us tonight, every cup game, particularly away from home, is a bit of a challenge. I'm looking forward to it."

Asked if he's able to make several changes without disrupting the team's flow, Postecoglou said: "We're trying to get to that point.

"We've still got eight games to go in this cluster before the break. If you rely on too few, you're going to get a number of injuries. We've done pretty well in minimising that side of it, the guys who've missed out have done so through contact rather than muscle injures.

"It showed at the weekend if the guys who come in provide that energy, it doesn't disrupt our performance."

Image source, SNS

Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Despite their recent grip on the competition, Celtic still trail Rangers as the most successful League Cup team.

Celtic's overall haul stands at 20, seven behind Rangers, who haven't picked up the trophy since 2011.

Rangers ended their long wait to be reacquainted with the Scottish Cup last season. Are they on track to do the same in this tournament?

Kyogo Furuhashi was the Celtic hero is last season's final, scoring twice as his side came from behind to beat Hibernian 2-1 at Hampden.

Celtic have won this tournament six times in the last eight campaigns.

Image source, SNS

Benjamin Siegrist takes the gloves for Celtic this evening.

Once again, manager Ange Postecoglou rotates his full-backs, with Josip Juranovic and Greg Taylor back in the side.

James Forrest and Giorgos Giakoumakis may have scored five of the six goals in Saturday's win over Hibs, but those two find themselves on the bench as Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi join the attack.

The home side make two changes from Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Rangers, with Blair Spittal back from injury and Connor Shields returning from a ban.

Ross Tierney and Josh Morris drop to the bench.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell: Kelly, McGinn, Solholm Lamie, Penny, Goss, Slattery, Spittal, McKinstry, Shields, Van Veen.

Substitutes: Oxborough, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Maguire, Cornelius, Morris, Tierney, Miller, Ferrie.

Celtic: Siegrist, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Taylor, Mooy, Hatate, O'Riley, Abada, Kyogo, Haksabanovic.

Substitutes: Hart, McCarthy, Ideguchi, Bernabei, Giakoumakis, Maeda, Forrest, Ralston.

Kilmarnock are already in the hat for the Scottish League Cup semi-finals, so who will join them?

Holders Celtic are at Motherwell in this evening's early kick off.

Later on, Aberdeen host Partick Thistle and Rangers welcome Dundee to Ibrox.

We're in for the long haul, all the way to the draw after the game at Ibrox.