SCOTT BROWN admits he is not concerned about finishing on top of Europa League Group D - only on ensuring qualification to the last 32.

Victory in the group would mean avoiding a team dropping down from the Champions League.

But the skipper's only goal is to help the Hoops qualify for the knock-out rounds.

He admitted: "It would be huge to finish top of the group. But the main thing is to qualify. If we do that, we will have done really well.

"It doesn't matter how we qualify, if it's in this game or the last one in Zagreb. It would be great to get it out the way, but it doesn't always happen that way.

"If we finish first or second, it doesn't matter. We'll just be glad to get through."

Brown has warned his team-mates they must handle the pressure the Austrian champions will exert from the first whistle.

The relentless way Red Bull closed them down when they met on Match Day One in Salzburg left Brown - who had put his side 2-1 ahead - breathless.

But a win would see Celtic join them in the last 32, and push them one point ahead of Salzburg going into the final game in Zagreb.

The skipper said: "It's hard, especially when their right-back pushes Emilio Izaguirre right up the park and it puts us under pressure.

"They want to force you into making mistakes. You have to be calm and strong on the ball and fight for it.

"Salzburg press you all the time, but we've been working on closing gaps down."

Ronny Deila agrees with his skipper that Salzburg have been the toughest team they have met this season, and said: "Their level is equal with Maribor and Legia Warsaw. Maybe with Legia, they are the best team we have faced in my time as manager."

No one in the Hoops camp needs any reminding that the Polish side won both qualification games against the Scottish champions before losing out through playing an ineligible player.

But Deila is convinced his side is now better placed to meet this level of opposition and said: "We are at home and better now at winning games and having more confidence.

"We're going to go out hard and try to get the first goal, but we also have to be disciplined and aware for 90 minutes because possession will switch a lot and you need to be good in transitions.We have a plan for that."