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Scott Brown and Graeme Shinnie do not like each other, and this battle could determine this weekend’s league fixture.

Both have enjoyed numerous battles over the years together and it will be no different when they square off at Celtic Park.

The league fixture has generally been between the best two teams in Scotland in recent years. However, Rangers have muscled in ahead of Aberdeen in the league this season.

On the morning of the Betfred Cup Final in December, The Daily Record reported Shinnie’s claims that Scott Brown ‘hates him.’

Furthermore, the Aberdeen skipper aimed a thinly veiled threat at his Celtic counterpart. Shinnie claimed they would settle their differences ‘like men’ on the pitch.

However after the game, and suffering from another defeat at the hands of Celtic, Shinnie’s tune changed.

Unable to settle his difference with Brown like a man, he branded the Celtic skipper ‘classless’ in the Daily Mail.

Both men have never been friends, but their rivalry has sparked since Shinnie’s horror tackle on Brown in May.

Brown chose to laugh off the challenge, with The Telegraph reporting Brown deemed it ‘a little boy’s challenge.’ The Celtic captain also dismissed Shinnie as a footballer saying he has ‘not got great quality.’

Their battle is set to take centre stage again at Celtic Park in this hugely anticipated league fixture.

The rivalry may have gone under the radar due to Aberdeen’s fall from second to third and Neil Lennon’s return to Celtic.

However when the whistle is blown, both captains will be in each other’s faces like usual.

One sided rivalry

Brown won’t have many sleepless nights over the thought of battling Shinnie in a match.

However, he would be foolish to deny that coming up against the Dons’ skipper gives him added motivation to do well.

Shinnie’s last act against Celtic was to dive and win a penalty. Don’t be shocked if Brown hasn’t forgotten about that.