Rangers striker Kenny Miller claims Scott Brown tipped Aberdeen as Celtic's biggest threat this season to "noise people up".
The Light Blues have returned to the Scottish Premiership after a four-year absence and host Hamilton in the curtain-raiser at Ibrox on Saturday.
However, Hoops skipper Brown claimed the Dons, who have been runners-up in the previous two seasons, would be the side most likely to push the champions who are going for a sixth straight title.
Miller pointed to the fact Rangers beat Celtic on penalties in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park last season as evidence of the Gers' potential challenge but nevertheless is taking Brown's comments with a "pinch of salt".
"There is no way Scott Brown actually believes that," said the 36-year-old former Celtic player.
"He is saying that to get a headline and noise people up but let's be honest about it, he knows from the semi-final last year where yes, we won on penalties but we dominated that game, were worthy winners, - if it hadn't been normal time, it should have been in extra-time.
"So he knows the challenge we are going to bring this year."
Asked if Brown's remarks were just part of the Old Firm rivalry, Miller said: "Again, I don't think Broony got his own (team's) scores against Aberdeen right at Parkhead.
"He said they came to Parkhead and got points but they never, so we will take that with a pinch of salt as well."
Brown said on Monday that in "the last couple of seasons (Aberdeen) have come to Celtic Park and got points and we have struggled up there" - the Dons won both home games with Celtic last season but lost both away fixtures, while Celtic won all four meetings in 2014-15.
Source: PA-WIRE
