HAMILTON skipper Alex Neil believes that Accies must stop Celtic's marauding midfield ace Scott Brown or face a torrid afternoon at Parkhead tomorrow.

Neil has no hesitation in labelling Brown as the nation's top midfield performer and is relishing the prospect of policing the Hoops hero.

The Accies playmaker was in no mood to play down the size of the task awaiting him and his midfield team-mates in their battle with Brown.

He said: "For me, Scott Brown started the season well and he has just got better. I think the big thing about him is his energy.

"He just never stops and for Scotland against Iceland, he was still bombing up and down the park with two minutes to go.

"That was despite the fact he has probably played more games than anyone else in Scotland this season. Plus, he has a nose for a goal and is always supporting his strikers. Defensively he puts in a great shift and can also pass the ball.

"But while I have nothing but admiration for him, I am also relishing the prospect of playing against Scott and so are the rest of the Accies midfield."

While Neil knows that stopping Brown will be key, he is also aware that Accies must compete in every area of the park if they are to avoid another hammering in Glasgow.

In four away matches against the Old Firm this season, Hamilton have scored just twice and have shipped a whopping 18 goals - 14 against Rangers and the remainder in a 4-0 defeat at Parkhead in October.

The 27-year-old added: "We have taken some sore ones at both Parkhead and Ibrox this season and it would be great if we could take something from Celtic Park tomorrow.

"Although if we do, you would have to be honest and say that would be a bonus."

The Accies skipper may have provided the leadership in the middle for Billy Reid's men this season, but his young colleagues James McArthur and James McCarthy have stolen all of the headlines.

Neil said: "I thought when we got promoted that both of them would be good enough to settle in the SPL and then develop as players but there is always a part of you that still wonders.

"But they have adjusted superbly and for them the opportunity to play at places like Celtic Park and Ibrox has been an exciting challenge. I know that both the lads are relishing the chance to play against the likes of Scott Brown and measure their progress. But we know that collectively as a team we will have to be at our best."

While tomorrow's meeting with the Hoops looms large, Neil admits that the upcoming fixtures with Dundee United and Inverness are where Accies must really hold their own.

He said: "They are the big ones for us. It has been a funny season in many ways in that we have had periods where we have won six or seven games and then had slumps.

"That is probably down to the fact we have so many young guys in the side and that does mean you get inconsistency.

"But we believe we are good enough to stay up and we really think we can achieve that. In that respect, it is vital that, even if we get nothing from Celtic, we are competitive and do ourselves justice."