Charlie Nicholas reckons we won’t reach Friday with all four Scottish Premiership representatives still left in the hat for the Europa League playoff round.
And the 58-year-old pundit has identified every tie being played abroad as the clinching factor in some early exits from the prestigious competition.
While he expects Celtic to progress past a straightforward tie in Latvia he also thinks Rangers will just edge their much tougher test against Willem II of the Netherlands.
The Dutch side finished fifth in the league last year but Nicholas believes Steven Gerrard side’s recent Euro form makes the tie a winnable one. But only just.
He is less confident though about the fates of Motherwell and Aberdeen, though.
Steven Robinson’s side face Israeli side Hapoel Beer-Sheva in what is sure to be a difficult game against an improving club.
Meanwhile the Dons have the toughest tie on paper but Portuguese giants Sporting will be weakened by a coronavirus outbreak that will see them miss a host of players.
Regardless, Nicholas expects both to suffer a premature end to their Euro exploits on Thursday.
He said: “I fear this will be the week when some of Scotland's representatives drop out of the Europa League.
“Our four teams have been drawn away from home in Thursday's third qualifying round and they are all awkward ties.
“I expect Celtic to beat Riga in Latvia, while Rangers' away form in Europe tells me they will scrape past Willem II in the Netherlands.
“I am not so confident about the chances of the other two.
“An Aberdeen side without Scott McKenna were crushed 3-0 by Motherwell last weekend and I am not expecting Derek McInnes' side to get the better of Sporting.
“Motherwell got lucky against Coleraine in the last round, but it would be harsh to criticise a team that doesn't play well and still goes through.
“The goals are now flowing for Stephen Robinson's men and there is a bit of confidence coming back in.
“But they will be facing a Hapoel Beer-Sheva team who have been building up their reputation in Europe and conditions will be difficult.
“I just can't see Motherwell progressing in Israel."
