O'Neill waryCeltic manager Martin O'Neill claims his side's striking crisis means bookmakers should rethink his sides' status as overwhelming favourites to beat Rangers in tomorrow's Old Firm derby (12.0, Sky Sports One).
But O'Neill is nevertheless confident his depleted side are still good enough to come out on top in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
Celtic's domination of the league this season, which has seen them move 16 points clear, added to Rangers' own dismal form, saw the bookies establish Celtic as big Glasgow derby favourites.
But injuries have hit Celtic's striking department hard in recent weeks, with John Hartson and Shaun Maloney both out for the season. Chris Sutton damaged an ankle against Teplice on Wednesday and is unlikely to be risked, especially as a UEFA Cup tie with Barcelona is fast approaching.
That has left O'Neill with just one recognised striker - Henrik Larsson.
"Rangers are still a very good side. They have had one or two slip-ups just recently but they have all their players back and raring to go," O'Neill added. Nevertheless, he is determined to prove the bookies right after all, although he is keen to play down claims Celtic are out to "bury" their rivals' season.
He said: "It's a big derby and the normal statement is that form goes out of the window.
"But we are at home, it's a Scottish Cup match and we are going to try to win the game.
"We are going all out to win the game because it would mean we were in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup instead of Rangers.
Pires 'rested'
Arsene Wenger insisted Robert Pires is not being protected from a stormy reception at Fratton Park today (BBC1, 6.0) even though the winger is being rested from Arsenal's FA Cup quarter-final tie.
Pires courted controversy in the Premiership game against Portsmouth earlier this season when he went down easily after the faintest of contact from Dejan Stefanovic.
Wenger admitted it was not a penalty, even though Alan Wiley awarded a spot-kick, although he has again sought to defend Pires's reputation.
"I can agree it was not a penalty but he was touched and went down, although maybe in a bit of a theatrical way," he declared.
"Robert has had no problems since then. He's not a physical type of player and because of his past injury problems, he tries to escape quickly and go down."
If he resists, then there's more chance of him getting injured."
Wenger still hit out at alleged instances of diving against Arsenal, citing Eidur Gudjohnsen and Ruud van Nistelrooy as having been guilty of such offences against the Gunners this season.
