The Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions will look to cement their place at the top of the table before they turn their attention to next Wednesday's Champions League Group E clash with Manchester United at Parkhead.

The Hearts versus Celtic fixture is traditionally one of the most keenly-fought in the football calendar, although the Hoops' boss, who will have skipper Stephen McManus back from a hamstring injury, believes every game brings a challenge.

Strachan said: "They are all difficult. The Hibs game recently was going to be difficult and we won. We went to Kilmarnock, the team that was third in the league, and we had to play well to win there.

"It's the same build-up to every game. At the stadiums we go to, everyone is looking forward to the game.

"The fans are looking forward to it, the players are looking forward to it but we have to deal with that.

"And we have to deal with teams who are going to try harder against us than they did the previous week because of the atmosphere, the build-up and everything that goes with it.

"We've never been to Tynecastle where it's not been quick and frantic.

"We have to be ready for it but, so far, we've done okay."

Strachan was further lifted by the news that midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, who came off injured against Kilmarnock in midweek with a thigh injury after coming in for some rough treatment, should be fit for the trip to Edinburgh.

The Celtic boss, however, will be without defender Glenn Loovens, who injured his thigh against Hibernian last Saturday and will miss the visit of United next week.

The former Coventry and Southampton manager, though, has no worries over midfielder Scott Brown who, after scoring twice in October to win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month award, is looking to carry on his good form.

Brown said: "I've been getting forward a bit more in the last few games and hitting the target. That's always what I want to do.

"I got a goal against Inverness and against Hibs last weekend which was good. Now we play Hearts on Sunday and we need to see if we can win that game."