Little more than 12 months ago, in another semi-final, much was anticipated by a slavering media pack, hopeful that Deila's resurgent Celtic could be derailed by an Ibrox side marshalled by that wily old fox, Kenny McDowall.
The event proved something of a damp squib with the national stadium's surface the nearest thing to a leveller on display, a field more appropriate to the lower reaches of junior football.
On that occasion, the then Championship favourites failed to record a shot on target, something that will surely be a more realistic aim this time around, going strongly in their domestic league, a chance of Petrofac Cup glory and, at the helm, a coach who is the envy of Europe's elite clubs.
Anyone who has listened to Mark Warburton's pronouncements on the finer points of commerce, tactics, advice on refereeing, the science of artificial playing surfaces and football etiquette will realise that Celtic, who have been on shaky form of late, will face a very different prospect to that rag-tag assembly of hoofers, journeymen and cultural icons who last faced the Hoops in the south side of Glasgow.
And yet, such have been the demands placed on Ronny Deila and so profound have been the fears around developments at Celtic Park that, for the first time in more than 125 years, a Celtic manager will almost certainly be expected to deliver a record victory to have any hope of retaining the faith of his most ardent partisans.
Few would envy him on 16th April, facing a team currently 37 points ahead of Morton, who Celtic beat 3-0 to set up the clash, yet being required to match, if not better, that result to remain in a job.
The choice is a stark one – a historic win or you're history, Ronny.--
