MOST of the players who were in the Celtic starting line-up at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon will find themselves on the replacements bench in the Central Stadium in Almaty tomorrow evening.
Only Kasper Schmeichel, Liam Scales, Anthony Ralston and Benjamin Nygren, the summer signing who scored two second-half goals in the 3-0 William Premiership win over Livingston despite being out of position on the right wing, are certain to be involved in the Champions League play-off second round match against Kairat.
But can the Scottish champions replicate their improved display in Kazakhstan, record the away win they need to progress to the league phase of Europe’s premier club competition for the second season running, bank a £40m pay day and quell the growing disaffection among their support?
Brendan Rodgers appeared quietly confident Celtic can when he spoke to the media at the weekend in the wake of a result which sent them two points clear of Hearts at the top of the league table.
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The fallout to the 0-0 draw in the East End of Glasgow last Wednesday night centred on the failure of the board to bring in like-for-like replacements for Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo Furuhashi .
The fans had protested in the stands as their heroes had suffered a desperately disappointing result which seriously jeopardised their prospects of joining the continent’s elite, the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City and Napoli, in the competition proper.
The members of the Green Brigade ultras group made their feelings about the perceived lack of transfer activity well known on Saturday with banners and chants which were aimed in the direction of the directors,
But Rodgers, who has himself repeatedly stressed the need to strengthen in forward areas before the window closes in recent weeks, had clearly had time to reflect on events in midweek. He is optimistic that his charges can avoid the poor half which cost them dear in the first leg, perform to their very best and prevail.
The Northern Irishman is unsure if Adam Idah, the Republic of Ireland internationalist who was absent from the squad altogether due to a minor injury, will be fit enough to feature in Kazakhstan. But it is unlikely the £9m forward will be given the nod to lead the line even if he is available.
He has, though, not started the 2025/26 campaign especially well. Celtic were far better in the second half on Wednesday night after he had been taken off, Yang Hyun-jun had been deployed on the left wing and Daizen Maeda had been moved inside.
Maeda came on along with James Forrest and Callum McGregor against Livingston, played out wide and set up his fellow substitute Johnny Kenny for a late goal. But do not be surprised if the Japanese internationalist is once again deployed through the middle against Kairat. The visitors will be an altogether different proposition if he is.
Rodgers was decidedly more upbeat on Saturday evening than he had been on Wednesday night when he looked ahead to what will be one of Celtic’s biggest games of the season.
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“We've started domestically very, very well,” he said. “We had one half that strangely was a bit passive. But sometimes that happens over two legs. You don't really know the team, you start slow and a bit sluggish and you're not quite at your level.
“But apart from that first half, these players have performed well domestically, have won all three games, have scored goals and have hardly conceded anything. I really value the players that are here. They're working very, very hard.
“We know what we need to do. We'll take this squad and hopefully get the job done on Tuesday. In the main, we've started strongly. The difference now in this second leg is that it's winner takes all. Everything is there for us to do it.
“They're a good side, well-organised and it’s always tough in European football to go away. But we know we need the result. And we're going to give absolutely everything to get the result and be at the top table of European football. I think people will see a different Celtic team.”
Beating Kairat, even though they are lesser team to those they faced last time around, will be an achievement to match any of those. The experience which the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Scales, Ralston, McGregor, Reo Hatate, Forrest and Maeda gained will prove invaluable during what promises to be a mentally and physically demanding evening.
Kieran Tierney, meanwhile, will have no difficulty coping with the occasion having been involved in many like it with club and country during his long and distinguished playing career.
The nine hour flight will clearly take its toll on Celtic. But resting so many key players against Livingston should have the desired impact on their energy levels and sharpness. There are no guarantees in the play-off rounds. Anything can and frequently does happen. If the visitors, though, turn up and acquit themselves at the level they have in the past then they will progress.
