Addressing the press in Amsterdam yesterday, Celtic's manager Martin O'Neill described tonight's Champions League qualifier first leg against Ajax as "a tie of huge financial consequence to both clubs".
Leeds United estimated their equivalent qualifier against 1860 Munich last year was worth £10 million sterling, so O'Neill was certainly right about the stakes, but his words could have applied to Celtic's neighbours Rangers as much as to Ajax. This is a big night for the Old Firm.
More than money is on the line, but given that Rangers will need about £8 million sterling to clinch the signature of Everton's Michael Ball - expected at Ibrox for Rangers' difficult-looking tie against the Turkish champions Fenerbahce - and that Celtic have just spent £8 million sterling on John Hartson, Steve Guppy and Mohammed Sylla, the enhanced credibility derived from any Old Firm success would have a significant economic impact.
Rangers' chances have been harmed, however, by injuries to such key players as Claudio Reyna, Lorenzo Amoruso, Ronald de Boer and the new signing Christian Nerlinger. Rangers have bad memories of Turkey - they suffered a 3-2 defeat at Galatasaray in the group stages of this competition last season.
Celtic's recent European form is considerably less impressive even than Rangers'. It is necessary to look back to 1982 and a victory over Ajax, fittingly, for a performance that genuinely impressed.
A strong showing tonight, therefore, would offer further proof of Celtic's development under O'Neill. Yet Ajax, who finished 22 points behind PSV Eindhoven last season, are hardly what they were even six years ago. Then they were the champions of Europe, but perhaps more than any major club they were hit by the effects of the Bosman ruling.
They have spent money this summer, £5 million sterling on Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Malmo, but they are an unknown quantity, the Dutch league has not yet started and Celtic's superior fitness should be a factor.
Hartson should again start on the bench. Bobby Petta is struggling, so Guppy may begin on the left. Alan Thompson is suspended because of a booking in an Intertoto Cup match against Aston Villa last season.
