Celtic: Will Hoops secure Champions League progression vs Young Boys at Parkhead on Wednesday night?
One more Champions League win should be enough to see Celtic through to the next stage and Brendan Rodgers has told his team to "play the game, not the occasion".
Celtic face Young Boys of Switzerland in their penultimate league-phase game at Parkhead on Wednesday night, and it promises to be a memorable occasion.
They are 21st in the table with nine points from six games, and a win against the side sitting bottom - without a point - would all but secure a place in the play-off round. It would even maintain hopes of a spot in the top eight, with Aston Villa away to come.
Rodgers, who has never progressed to the knockout stages in either of his two spells with Celtic, hopes they can go a step further in their final home match of the new group format.
"When we started this journey we wanted to show that we can compete at this level and can we go and make the next steps and get into the play-off stage," the manager said.
"We've been able to get ourselves into a really good position with nine points and our home form at the level has been really good.
"We have that opportunity now to take a big step to get to the play-off.
"They [the players] understand the magnitude of the game, but they also understand that it's about performing.
"The key in games like this here is that you play the game and not the occasion.
"The occasion is absolutely massive for us, but we can only get to where we want to get to by playing to the levels that we've played at, especially at home."
Celtic's Swiss opponents are yet to pick up a single point in the group stage and have never won any of their 11 previous away games in the competition.
The new Champions League format means the team that finishes ninth faces the team in 24th in the play-off round. Tenth plays 23rd, 11th plays 22nd and so on.
So if you just miss out on a top-eight finish, the blow is softened by playing the worst-performing sides that qualified from the league phase. So the higher you finish, the 'easier' game you get.
But again, if teams such as Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain struggle in the league phase, you could have top sides meeting each other in the play-off rounds.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor is hopeful this is the season he will lead the side beyond the group stage of European competition.
"It's down to us to come and give a performance that merits that and gets the crowd involved in the game and makes it a really difficult night," he said.
"We know we're playing against a good side, good physicality at this level.
"But we also know that we're a good side as well and we can play football. We've proved that in the home games and some of the away games as well at this level.
"We've tried and failed pretty much most of the time, so it's a big step for the club. Everybody wants to be a part of it.
"We've done ever so well so far, but we don't want to be the nearly team.
"We feel like we've got a team here that should be getting success. It's now down to the players to prove that."
Rodgers always insisted he returned to help Celtic not only dominate domestically but also make a "breakthrough" in the Champions League, and so far he is being proved right.
Last season was a tough learning curve. While they won their first home group-stage game in 10 years - beating Feyenoord - they last won on the road in 2017, during Rodgers' first spell at the club.
He was adamant Celtic were heading in the right direction to "break this barrier and bridge this gap" to Europe's elite. Yes, they lost heavily away to Borussia Dortmund, but that is their only defeat in six in this season's competition. Although they are still waiting to end their winless run on the road.
There is no doubt last summer's signings have helped. Celtic smashed their record transfer by signing Arne Engels for £11m, while Adam Idah returned permanently in a deal worth up to £9.5m. Auston Trusty moved from Sheffield United for £6m, Kasper Schmeichel has been ever present in goal since joining, with the likes of Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and Alex Valle also making an impact.
Like Rodgers promised, the Hoops are stronger now than last season. Celtic have the tools they need to enjoy domestic dominance and have also proved they have a real chance of progressing in the Champions League.
To finish in the top 24, which guarantees you a play-off spot at least, Opta believes 10 points - so three wins and a draw, or other combinations - will almost certainly guarantee you a place in that round.
Nine points - so three wins from eight games, or other combinations - could be enough to finish 24th, with that points tally being enough in 69 per cent of the simulations.
But just eight points - so two wins and two draws, or other combinations - runs the risk of elimination, with that points tally being sufficient in just 16 per cent of the simulations.
So teams will be targeting at least three wins from eight to give them the best possible chance of reaching the Champions League knockout rounds.
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season will take place in Munich at the Allianz Arena on May 31, 2025.
