Celtic v Rangers Tomorrow, 3.0 Celtic's Bobo Balde wants to use success in the Scottish League Cup tomorrow as a springboard for victory in their UEFA Cup tie against Liverpool.

The Merseysiders are in the driving seat for a place in the semi-finals after earning a 1-1 draw at Parkhead.

"I am confident we can go down there and beat them," Balde said yesterday. "I'm sure it's going to be really hard, but I know we can do it.

First, however, Celtic must focus their attentions on tomorrow's clash with Rangers at Hampden Park - and Balde believes the outcome of that could have a huge bearing on Thursday's result.

Confidence is high after beating their arch rivals last Saturday, but Balde claims it will be further boosted for the trip south if they can claim back-to-back Old Firm wins.

"Maybe there will be changes," he added. "But it's a hard game and a final. You know if you win this game you get a trophy and that can be good for the next game with Liverpool.

"This is a game we have to win because we will receive more confidence to take to Liverpool next week."

Last weekend was O'Neill's first win over Alex McLeish after six attempts as Old Firm managers, and Balde claims that has destroyed any psychological problems at Celtic.

"It boosted us a lot to beat Rangers because when McLeish took the team we never won a game against them so it was very good to beat them," Balde admitted.

"We now have enough confidence to win the League Cup trophy. Last year we lost in the semi-final and they won.

"We were very disappointed, but now we want to win this trophy and we will be stronger in our head for beating them."

O'Neill claims Celtic have made just as much money from their thrilling UEFA Cup run as they would have done in the Champions League.

And the ambitious manager revealed he will sit down with his directors and tell them they will need to splash that cash if they are to have more European glory nights.

While the Northern Irishman believes it will take time to assemble a squad of Gerard Houllier's strength and quality, he insists that is something the board should aspire to.

"I'm delighted after the disappointment of Basle and the disappointment for me was not participating in the Champions League from a footballing view point," O'Neill said.

"Suddenly people said £10 million had disappeared because we had had it the previous year, but we shouldn't be budgeted for money we don't get and nobody here does that.

"It was a disappointment we didn't get through, but we have more than made up for it since that game in financial terms.

"The Liverpool game - outside the Champions League final here - was as big a money-spinner as there has ever been in Scotland and so we have done very, very well financially.

"We have clawed all that money back with the efforts of the players and the supporters who have paid a lot of money and TV who thought it was worthwhile to cover.

"I'm delighted with our position now as we stand and I'm sure I will sit down with the board in the next month or so and have real proper discussions about it."

O'Neill confesses that his players have had no time to prepare for tomorrow's game.

"It's a strange feeling because it's the first time ever I have been involved in a cup final that we haven't had a week to prepare for.

"We've had no time to think about the cup final. Our minds are on it now, but we've had no time to prepare physically or mentally because of the importance of the game in midweek.

"But it's the first trophy of the season and you want to win it. Defeat won't be okay and there will be disappointment there that might take some time to go away."

Rangers recall Ronald de Boer, who missed last weekend's duel because of a calf strain, but Arthur Numan has been ruled out by a knee injury.

Celtic miss Alan Thompson, who strained a groin muscle during Thursday's game.