Celtic manager Martin O'Neill will not throw Bobo Balde in at the deep end against Ajax even though his defence could be severely weakened.

The Glasgow club hold a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Amsterdam and only disaster tonight would stop them from qualifying for a place in the Champions League group stages for the first time in their history.

But the Parkhead boss is sweating on the fitness of key defensive duo Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren and will give them as much time as possible to recover from ankle and knee injuries respectively.

"Our injury problems are still the same with the two lads, Johan and Joos still a bit of a concern," said O'Neill.

"But Johan is feeling a bit better and, although he didn't train today, I'll give him another day. Joos is in very much the same situation and I would say I'm hopeful about them, but not 100 per cent confident."

Neill could have handed summer signing Balde a baptism of fire against the Dutch giants, but he insisted there would be no chance of that. The French defender made his debut during Monday's under-21 victory over Aberdeen and came through the 90 minutes unscathed.

Balde looked strong and composed after his lengthy absence, but the Irishman stressed he was not prepared to take the risk on him tomorrow. "I wouldn't consider him for this game at all," O'Neill insisted. "He's been out for a long time and, although he did okay, I thought he was a bit rusty.

"He got a great reception from the crowd who turned up at the game and he was pleased to get the 90 minutes under his belt."

O'Neill looks set to employ a back three of Tom Boyd, Olivier Tebily and Chris Sutton if the Swede and Belgian are out. But the veteran playmaker has faith in the trio to keep the Dutch giants at bay and secure Celtic's birth in the group stages.