IF Celtic's Champions League qualifier against Elfsborg tomorrow goes all the way to a penalty shoot-out, Fraser Forster is more than prepared - thanks to a few very special ladies.

The Hoops keeper got what must be the most unusual spot-kick practice ever when he faced up to shots from, among others, the partners of team-mates Kris Commons, Mikael Lustig, Anthony Stokes and Joe Ledley.

The bizarre session took place at Parkhead after Celtic had defeated Ross County 2-1 on Saturday evening.

Cheered on by a host of their kids, and their amused partners, the glamorous ladies swapped designer stilettos for football boots and put Forster through his paces.

As it was for charity, the big man gallantly allowed a few early efforts to beat him. But when Lustig's wife, Josefin, started blasting shots which would have done justice to her husband, Forster had to pull out all of the stops to get anywhere near them.

He will be hoping tomorrow night's game is done and dusted long before it requires more Swedes to test his ability to save spot-kicks.

But with only a one-goal advantage from the first leg, manager Neil Lennon is allowing and preparing for every possibility.

The Hoops boss believes his team can score in the Boras Arena, and that will mean a penalty shoot-out is removed from the equation. Elfsborg would need to score twice just to take the game to extra time.

And, with Celtic having conceded only one goal in their previous seven qualifiers, it would be a big ask for the Swedish champions, who have been struggling for wins.

Their 2-1 defeat away to AIK Stockholm at the weekend means they have won just three of their last 11 games - and two of those were in the previous qualifying round against a very weak Latvian side, Daugava.

Lennon's plan is to score early and knock the heart out of Mo Bangura and his team-mates - if the on-loan striker is fit after reportedly picking up a thigh injury.

The Hoops boss is acutely aware of the threat from Elfsborg's counter-attacking style.

But Lennon reckons there is enough pace and goal threat in his own side to give them the upper hand and progress to the play-off round draw on Friday.

Fingers remain crossed that Derk Boerrigter will recover in time from the ankle knock he sustained on his short-lived debut at the weekend.

"I thought Derk was fantastic for us on Saturday," said Lennon. "His movement was great, and I was really pleased with how he settled into the side. Just in the time he was on, you could see what he brings to the team already."

Even if the flying Dutchman does not make it, Lennon reckons there is enough in their locker to take the game to the Swedes - and at pace.

The running power of James Forrest - and, hopefully, Boerrigter - is now considered one of Celtic's most potent weapons. But it is not all they have in their armoury, as Lennon explained.

"The pace of Derk and James is important, but we also have Georgios Samaras, Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes who can all get goals," said the manager.

"Despite the fact we are still looking for a striker to sign (nothing will happen on that front until after tomorrow's game), we have good attacking options in the team - if they can stay fit."

Managing the squad to ensure they all remain in the best possible condition will be a key aspect of Lennon's job as he attempts to maximise what he has at his disposal during a hectic start to the campaign.

He has already seen the treatment room become busier than is healthy, but it is now beginning to clear again, with Forrest among the first to emerge to add his precocious skill to the cause.

"James has done well again after returning to the side," said Lennon. "He had a really good 90 minutes on Saturday before we took him off in stoppage-time. We were worried about him, and whether he would last the entire game."

The look of disappointment on the face of the 22-year-old when he left the field was understandable, given how much football he has missed in the past.

BUT Lennon quickly explained to him it is his importance in tomorrow's match which was behind his removal at the weekend.

"We're just trying to look after him. It's as simple as that," said Lennon.

"We were worried about him before the match after he complained of stiffness following the Elfsborg game last week.

"In fact, we were not going to start him on Saturday. But when he came down on the morning of the game, he was feeling okay. And I thought he was back to his best against Ross County."

So what gives the manager most reassurance ahead of this crunch tie:

Knowing he has got players who can hurt opponents and score on the road, or the fact they have shown on several occasions that they have the maturity and experience to keep clean sheets and win in Europe?

"I think it is a bit of both now," he replied after only the briefest hesitation, before adding the caveat: "Though there were aspects of our defending on Saturday that gave slight concern.

"But when they are really switched on, they are very good away from home. I don't want to tempt fate, but I think we have goals in us."

If he is correct, then all Forster's practise with the ladies will have been for nothing.