A method for analyzing a cell definition comprises the steps of: identifying at least one connectivity target in at least one cell definitions identifying at least one circuit path in the at least one cell definition, the at least one circuit path containing or connected to a circuit portion containing the at least one connectivity target of the cell definition; predicting a routing path to be used by a router to connect a connectivity target in the at least one cell definition to another structure; and determining whether a combination of the predicted routing path and the circuit path causes a violation of an integrated circuit design rule.