Neil Lennon warned against complacency in Celtic's Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final against Falkirk on Sunday in unusual fashion by claiming the Bairns' name might be on the trophy.
Steven Pressley's youthful First Division side have already seen off Clydesdale Bank Premier League outfits Rangers and Dundee United on their way to Hampden.
The Celtic manager acknowledged those achievements and, without prompting and in order to hammer home the point, referred back to the Hoops' shock Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by First Division side Ross County in 2010, when he was interim boss.
"They have been excellent," said the Northern Irishman of Falkirk.
"You look at that sort of run and you think their name might be on the cup this year. They have beaten two SPL teams, two cup specialists in Rangers and Dundee United, which were two terrific results.
"And they have been pretty consistent of late in the league.
"Obviously to beat Rangers is a huge scalp and we don't want to be the third one. They are a young team but they play with no fear and I'm sure that will be the case on Sunday.
"We know we have 90 minutes or 120 minutes and maybe penalties in front of us.
"You don't want to make the same mistakes as we did against Ross County a year or so or any other cup shocks the media keep throwing up at me - I always get reminded of it on these occasions so I thought I would get my retaliation in first.
"It shows the dangers that are there if you take your eyes off the ball."
Lennon, whose side are top of the SPL with 12 straight wins, did become more positive when reflecting on the journey his side had undertaken since that dark day at Hampden against the Highlanders.
"We have come a long, long way since then," he said.
"We had a pretty good season last season.
"We won a trophy, got to the final of another and lost the league by a point. We are on a good consistent run, we are now top of the league for the first time in a while and we have made gradual improvements in Europe, so step by step we have improved."
Lennon revealed that new signing, 20-year-old Nigerian midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim, would not be involved on Sunday due to red tape but is likely to be in contention from next week.
However, the former Celtic skipper did not offer any encouragement on the topic of further new faces arriving at Parkhead before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
Lennon claimed Jorge Molina is just one of several players he is having trouble in attracting to the club.
When was asked what was happening about the Real Betis striker he replied: "Not a lot. I am no further down the line with any enquiries for players.
"It's basically as you were. If the window shuts and we go with the squad we have then fine.
"You are always looking to strengthen if you can but at the moment it is looking very difficult. We are not ruling anything out, but we are not ruling anything in either.
"From my own experience of these transfer windows, anything can happen, it goes right up until 12 o'clock.
"Until Wednesday morning, I won't have a definitive answer."
When asked why it was a struggle to bring more players in, he replied: "Negotiations, clubs not wanting to part with their players, finances, agents jumping in on deals, that type of thing."
Stopper Daniel Majstorovic is back in contention after recovering from a fractured cheekbone sustained against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in December.
However, striker Mo Bangura's on-going knee problem means he may have to have surgery.
Lennon said: "Bangura needs to see a specialist, hopefully next week and we will see if he requires surgery or not on his knee but we are hoping that will not be the case.
"It has been very frustrating for him."
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