Celtic face a monumental uphill task if they're to qualify for next season's Champions League, with the Hoops set to get the season started with several punishing fixtures.
Having finished second in the Premiership last season, the Parkhead club no longer have the security of trying to reach the group stages via the champions route, and will instead be forced to come up against sides with serious European pedigree.
Starting in the second qualifying round as a seeded club, Celtic now know who exactly they're likely to come up against, with all of Europe's domestic leagues wrapped up for the summer.
And the first hurdle could see them come up against one of Turkish giants Galatasaray, Danish cracks FC Midtylland or old foes Rapid Vienna.
If they were to make it past one of those opponents - and it's a big if - Celtic would remain as a seeded club in the third qualifying round and should be drawn against one of Belgian runners-up Genk, Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, Spartak Moscow or Sparta Prague, assuming all of the seeded sides from the previous round progress.
Another two-legged victory would see the Celts qualify for the playoff round, and just one tie away from the lucrative group stages.
However, lying in wait is likely to be one of Shakhtar, Benfica or Monaco, again, assuming all of the seeded teams make it.
Should Celtic win their opening second round qualifying tie, they would guarantee themselves at least another campaign in the Europa League group stages but lose it and they could end up turning out in the inaugural Europa Conference League.
Earlier today, we told you how the Parkhead hierarchy are reportedly closing in on appointing Ange Postecoglou as their new manager - and by the looks of things, he'll have a very tricky start to negotiate.
.jpg?w=600)
