Celtic are set to be without injured skipper Paul Lambert for today's trip to Dundee as Martin O'Neill's side seek to close the gap on Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers.
Lambert injured his ankle in Scotland's Euro 2004 qualifying defeat by Germany on Wednesday and is struggling to be fit in time for next week's opening Champions League group match against Bayern Munich.
As well as doing without his skipper, O'Neill is aware that fatigue could prove a handicap at the end of a week in which many of his first team players have been away on international duty.
"There is no doubt that it will be a difficult match for us, coming on the back of a heavy international week," the Northern Irishman acknowledged.
"It is always a difficult place to go, as we discovered last season and we know we have to be very strong to take maximum points."
Dundee meanwhile are hoping to sign former Scotland midfielder Craig Burley, currently a free agent after leaving Derby in the summer. Manager Jim Duffy is hopeful a deal can be concluded soon although Burley will need some time to regain full match fitness.
Rangers, who have won all four of their games so far, have been given a boost with the news that Danish winger Peter Lovenkrands is likely to be fit for today's visit of Dunfermline.
Lovenkrands has been out for nearly a month as a result of a twisted knee but is confident of being ready, at least, to take a place on the bench at Ibrox.
"If everything goes to plan, hopefully I'll be involved," the Dane, who revealed he had feared a longer layoff when he got injured playing against Aberdeen last month.
"I feared the worst when I went down at first because I heard a loud clicking noise and I immediately thought it was a bad cruciate ligament injury. Luckily enough it was just a strain."
Lovenkrands' injury meant he missed out when Rangers clinched their place in the Champions League group phase by beating FC Copenhagen in his native country.
But he is now on track to be ready for the start of the group campaign against Stuttgart at Ibrox on Tuesday.
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