Scottish Premiership action is put to one side for Celtic this weekend as they make their first trip to Hampden of the season to face Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup semi-final. It's the first high stakes domestic fixture of the season and represents the chance for them to maintain their domination over Scottish football with progression to a third national cup final in a row.

Brendan Rodgers' side have gone 59 matches unbeaten in domestic competition but know that as long as that record is extended, the more motivating it becomes for opposition to be the ones that end it.

Hibernian have come closer than most along the way, forcing a 2-2 draw out of the champions at Celtic Park just a few weeks ago. Hampden has been kind to them in recent years and they'll be looking to reach another final, just 18 months after lifting the Scottish Cup in 2016.

After their energy-sapping exploits in Munich mid-week, it's important Rodgers gets his team selection spot on, especially considering this one could go the distance into extra-time.

One call he has to make is bringing Moussa Dembele back into the fold, replacing Leigh Griffiths in attack who, despite showing good form this season, should sit this one out and let his teammate take centre stage.

Here are THREE reasons why...

He thrived at Hampden last season

Hampden was a happy hunting ground for Moussa Dembele last season, popping up in important fixtures to land the Hoops their first silverware of the 2016/17 with the Scottish League Cup.

The most memorable goal was undoubtedly his last minute winner against rivals Rangers at this stage of the competition last season, but he also netted against Aberdeen in the final, scoring the third and putting the game beyond doubt in a 3-0 rout.

In the cups in general he showed monstrous form last season, scoring in every round of the League Cup which amounted to five in total, also scoring another five in the one-off ties of the Scottish Cup.

He clearly loves knockout football and the big occasion and having scored just one goal since March, he would be especially motivated to re-announce his important to Celtic with a big performance on Saturday.

He looked confident again away to Bayern

Moussa Dembele's problems so far this season have been due to his fitness and injury problems, struggling to shake off hamstring issues that have plagued him for the majority of 2017. Even when he has had game time, he's struggled for form, looking frustrated, isolated and lacking the swagger and confidence which defined his 2016/17 season.

The team he has looked most impressive against so far this season was an unlikely one, Bayern Munich. He came off the bench for Leigh Griffiths midway through the second half and showed more in his 25 minutes on the pitch than the Scottish international had managed.

He looked eager to impose himself on the match and his movement for teammates Tom Rogic and Scott Sinclair looked at the levels that would undoubtedly allow chances to be created against Hibs.

Celtic were much improved in the last 20 minutes of the match in Germany and while Bayern arguably took their foot off the gas, it was in no small part due to the impact of Dembele, proving he can be an important player in this weekend's semi-final.

He needs games to reach the heights of last year

Celtic need Moussa Dembele at his best. His 32 goal season last year made him an phenomenon in Scotland, garnering hype across the continent, and in a long, difficult season, he will play a vital part again this term even if the opening months have been frustrating for him.

Leigh Griffiths has played a lot of football for club and country in recent weeks and months and after running himself into the ground against Bayern Munich could do with a rest ahead of a vital match away to Aberdeen next Wednesday.

Giving Dembele his chance against Hibs makes perfect sense all round and his presence could be the difference between victory and defeat in what will likely be a close-fought encounter.

Only with regular football can he find the kind of form that allowed him to stun Manchester City and with Bayern set to come calling at Celtic Park in just a few weeks, he could shine on that stage once again.

If he's to get to that level he needs minutes on the pitch in the right circumstances and the stars have aligned for him to get an opportunity on Saturday.