Mickael Antoine-Curier believes that he should still be plying his trade in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and he aims to prove that this afternoon by helping Dundee knock Celtic out of the cup.

The Guadeloupe striker was moved on by Hibernian when Mixu Paatelainen took over from John Collins last season and that decision still rankles. Antoine-Curier, who is the Dens Park side's top scorer this term, had helped the Easter Road side to wins over Celtic and Rangers during his time in Edinburgh so believes he has the credentials as a big-game player.

"This is a great chance to test ourselves against top players," he insisted. "Celtic are the best team in Scotland so as professionals we want an opportunity to show what we can do against them.

"When I was with Hibernian, I played against Rangers at Ibrox but never featured against Celtic at Parkhead. I feel I should be playing at that level, you want to come up against the best players as often as possible.

"I played against Celtic at Easter Road and we won and I also helped Hibs to win at Ibrox so I have the experience of the big occasion. The SPL is where I want to be and where I feel I should be so this is my chance to show it.

"The only way to play when you come up against a top side is to show no fear. If we do that and play our own game then we've got a good chance."

Although Antoine-Curier has been to Celtic Park before, will be the first time he has experienced actually playing, having been left out by Hibs last term. He did, however, play a part in helping Hibs beat Rangers at Ibrox so won't be fazed by the occasion and is backing his team-mates to also show calm.

"I went to Parkhead with Hibs but wasn't in the squad," he confirmed. "It is a great stadium, one of the best in Europe and the atmosphere is amazing. I played at Ibrox in front of 52,000 people and walking out gives you goosebumps, but once the game starts the nerves go away and you just concentrate on the game. That is what we'll do today. We'll enjoy the build-up but once the game starts I'm sure all the lads will be focused on the game."

Antoine-Curier is a fan of the way Celtic play and has identified Georgios Samaras as the man Dundee have to stop. He said: "Celtic are a good, attacking team. They play good football and pass the ball really well. Their reputation in the game is for a team who try to play the right way and Gordon Strachan has kept that going. I like Samaras, he is someone I admire. He has scored a lot of goals since coming here and is definitely a player we'll have to watch."

Meanwhile, Jocky Scott, the Dundee manager, admitted that no matter who turns out for the Parkhead men today, his side are in for a tough afternoon.

"Celtic are Celtic regardless of who is playing for them," he said. "They are the champions of Scotland for the last three seasons and are favourites to make it four in a row. So it will be a good, strong Celtic team that we come up against.

"They will also have the fans behind them so we will need to contend with the atmosphere and the occasion but we will go there to enjoy it. I'm not stupid enough to say we are going to Parkhead and beat Celtic but there is the possibility of a surprise."

With Dundee going strong in their bid to catch league leaders St Johnstone, nine points ahead of the fifth-placed Taysiders, Scott reiterated his feeling that he sees the match as something of an inconvenience.

"I was only being honest,"

he said. "Our priority is to catch St Johnstone and we are playing catch-up all the time.

We are three games undefeated without losing a goal so we have a bit of momentum behind us in the league and we are playing with confidence.

But it is a big game and it will be a great experience, especially for those players who have never played at Parkhead before."