Aberdeen forward Miles Storey insists Celtic do not scare the Dons.
Derek McInnes’ side travel to Parkhead on Saturday for their first encounter of the season against the Premiership champions, who are the only team in the top flight still boasting a 100% record.
The trip to face Brendan Rodgers’ side will be an early acid test of the Dons’ title aspirations but Storey insists he and his team-mates are looking forward to their game against the Hoops, who qualified for the Champions League group stages on Tuesday, with relish.
He said: “I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating. Aberdeen took points off Celtic quite regularly last season.
“There’s a lot of confidence in our dressing room. From me coming in from the end of pre-season I’ve seen there’s a real quality in the squad in every single position and a strong competition for places.
“We have to believe in ourselves and go down there with a good mindset.
“I believe we can provide a good test. I’m sure our training will be geared to doing our best in trying to prevent them running away with it and there’s no reason why we can go down there and do that.”
The national spotlight has been fixed firmly on Glasgow with Rangers leading the table after three games but Storey believes his side is genuine challengers too and hopes to prove it on Saturday.
He said: “Joining a title challenging team was one of the main draws for me and I hope we can do that again this year.
“Rangers are back and getting a lot of publicity for it and starting well. We beat Partick Thistle 2-1 but it could have been much more and we have to keep putting our marker down as a real challenger as well as Rangers.
“We watched the goals St Johnstone scored against Celtic and we know they can be got at and that’s what we’ll be looking to do at Parkhead.”
Celtic, for their part, have looked impressive so far with Scott Sinclair and a rejuventated James Forrest adding to the firepower of Leigh Griffiths but Storey believes Aberdeen have their own goal threat to trouble the Hoops.
He said: “They’ve got so much fire power now. So, it’s going to be a difficult game but one, as players, you all look forward to.
“Griffiths seems to score every week and added to that you have Moussa Dembele, Sinclair and Forrest is playing well, too.
“We all offer something completely different from each other at this club.
“From a personal point of view I need to get fitter, I need to get stronger and I need to do more.
“There are a lot of players who can play in the forward positions and a lot of different options for the manager and that’s what you need at a big club like Aberdeen.
“There is no reason why we can’t go down to Celtic Park and do well.”
