Rangers romped to this season’s Scottish Premiership title with a mammoth 25-point lead over fierce rivals Celtic.
And you would think they would be rewarded for such an emphatic title win when it comes to progressing in European football.
However, there is a scenario that could see the Ibrox side worse off in their bid to stay in continental competition at least until Christmas.
Yes, Rangers enter the Champions League qualifiers one round later than Celtic with Steven Gerrard’s men in the third round qualifier.
It will be the first time in a decade the Ibrox club have been in Europe’s premier competition since losing to Malmo in a qualifier.
And if they lose again in the third round qualifier this season - they are seeded which is a boost - then Gers will drop into the Europa League play-off round.
So they would still face a nervy 180 minutes to ensure group stage football in the second tier competition for the fourth successive season under Gerrard.
Yet if Celtic reach the Champions League third round qualifying stage and lose then they, despite being runners-up in the league by some distance, would go straight into the Europa League group stage.
It’s a development that is sure to leave Gers fans scratching their heads with the vagaries of UEFA logic the only real explanation.
Rangers will be hoping it doesn’t come to that and they can reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in 11 years when they took on Manchester United, Valencia and Bursaspor.
Celtic fans are desperately hoping for news on Eddie Howe’s appointment this week - and the new man will learn his first competitive opponents soon after.
The Hoops will be the first of Scotland’s five European representatives in action in the new season although luckily for them not quite as early as in previous seasons.
Celtic have entered the Champions League at the first qualifying round stage in the last three campaigns but will skip that hurdle this time thanks to a co-efficient boost.
They have faced Armenians FC Alashkert, Sarajevo of Bosnia and then Icelandic outfit KR Reykjavik last season.
All were disposed of with the minimum of fuss you would expect when there is such a gulf in class at that stage of the competition.
The second qualifying round is a little trickier - Neil Lennon’s men came a cropper there last season - and that’s where Celtic enter this time around.
Celtic learn their opponents when the draw takes place on June 16 before the first leg on July 20/21 and the return a week later.
It doesn’t give the new man, expected to be former Bournemouth boss Howe, much time to prepare for a game with so much riding on it.
Celtic haven’t been in the Champions League group stage for three seasons and are desperate to put that right - but they will be boosted by the news that even if they lose they’re third round qualifier they will be guaranteed group stage football at least until Christmas.
