CELTIC have been given permission to stage a training session later today on the pitch at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium ahead of their Champions League third qualifying clash with Qarabag.

There had been concerns that the state of the surface, damaged badly by hot weather in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku and a disease affecting the grass, would force the game to go ahead elsewhere.

However, remedial work has ensured the pitch will be playable and the Parkhead club, defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg earned through a Dedryck Boyata goal, will be given the opportunity to inspect it first-hand later this afternoon.

John Collins, the Celtic assistant manager, has already admitted that his side may adjust their gameplan to cope with the obvious difficulties the field of play is likely to throw up.

"The pitch will have an effect on the game," he said. "We just have to deal with it. It will be stupid to ask the players to play passes in their own half on such a bumpy surface, but we will check it out thoroughly when we get there.

"If it is bumpy, we might have to be a bit more direct. We have to adapt."