CELTIC have developed a green-print for success on the road in Europe, and the Hoops plan to follow it to the letter in the San Siro tomorrow.

Neil Lennon wants his Bhoys to strike first against AC Milan.

It's a tactic which has served them well over the past couple of European campaigns, and an attack-minded set-up can be anticipated for the Group H opener.

Supporting what is expected to be a lone striker is an essential element of this system, and full-back Mikael Lustig is happy to buy into the approach which he hopes can put a Milan side missing several first-picks on the back foot.

The Swede explained Lennon will have them fired up from the off and said: "He is really good when he talks to us and all the players know exactly what to do.

"It's really important to try to score the first goal in European games away from home. That gives you something to then defend.

"When the manager speaks to you in the minutes before the game, he is very passionate.

"But he knows we are still young, so he never screams at us or anything like that.

"We know we are the underdogs, but the way we go and play against the big teams, we show respect for them - but we don't show respect on the pitch."

As the Pot 4 side in the group, and listed at 7-1 outsiders to take three points from this opening tie, Celtic are considered by many to be merely making up the numbers.

"Absolutely not," is Lustig's emphatic response to that notion.

"Last season we got a number of goals through set-pieces. We worked really hard on them and we got some really good service. Hopefully, we can do that again.

"I think we have a chance in the San Siro. In both Barcelona games we caused them problems. We can use set-pieces and we feel we can score."

Having himself survived an injury scare, after being carried off against Dundee United a fortnight ago, Lustig is hoping James Forrest can also recover in time to play tomorrow.

"If James is playing, he is one that can take them on, one on one," said the defender.

"Anthony Stokes has also been brilliant recently and played really well against Hearts at the weekend, plus we have Kris Commons, Derk Boerrigter and one or two others.

"We won't just be relying on set plays, we want to create chances from open play as well.

"We're going there to look for some points. Of course, it will be really hard, but, in our head we want to play."

It could also be a double celebration tomorrow for the Hoops as their Under-19 side, under the guidance of John Kennedy, will play their opening Uefa Youth League game against AC Milan at 2pm in Sesto San Giovanni.