Celtic are on their guard against a standing count to start the season tonight.

European away-day champion, Georgios Samaras, knows the danger of being caught cold. But the Hoops hero – who scored vital goals in Helsinki and Helsingborgs in last season's qualifiers, then went on to add strikes in Moscow and the Nou Camp – is hoping he can help prevent Cliftonville laying a glove on the Parkhead club tonight.

But Sami believes that, despite a far-from-inspiring set of warm-up matches, the SPL champs are fighting fit to justify their favourite's tag. He said "It's all about finding your fitness and sharpness again and getting ready for the games that matter.

"And the game that matters is tonight."

Celtic would be counted down and out of Europe for the season if they were floored by the Belfast side at this stage.

Samaras concedes Neil Lennon's team may not yet be right up to speed, but he is not prepared to let anyone use that as a pre-planned excuse.

He said: "It feels like only yesterday we played in the Scottish Cup final.

"But it's a new season and new start, and everyone is excited about it. Hopefully, everything will be okay.

"We feel ready. There is no doubt about that.

"We trained very hard in Germany. We know the results were not the best, but we feel really good about ourselves, and we believe in our team."

Celtic got their build-up spot on last summer, winning all four qualifying ties to march into the group stage.

Sami acknowledges the even earlier entry into the competition makes it a tougher test, with an instant exit the price to pay if they don't hit the ground running.

He said: "If we try to compare it to last season, I think it's harder because there is one more round to play to reach the group stage.

"But that is our target. It's what we want to achieve this season again.

"We need to get ready, physically and mentally, and get focused on these really important games.

"We have to forget what happened last season and concentrate on today and the near future."