Callum McGregor will join the long queue for Lionel Messi’s shirt in the Aviva stadium tonight – but he hopes to make a more lasting impression on the Catalan side.

The midfielder will look to use tonight’s game against Barcelona in Dublin as a dress rehearsal for what he hopes will be many similar nights this season in the UEFA Champions League.

Celtic’s invitation to compete in what is a relatively lucrative American-run competition suggests their name still commands a pulling power and a level of prestige; but it is not here in the impressive environs of the Aviva stadium where Celtic will look to restore their European fortunes, but rather in the UEFA Champions League, where the riches – on and off the field – lie.

“The thought of playing against the Messi and Suarez, it excites you,” said McGregor. “You see these guys playing in the biggest matches in the Champions League, El Clasicos.

“You watch them on the TV and now you are going to play them, test yourself against the best in the world.

“It shows you where you are at. This’ll be a good test for our fitness and the way we want to play. Hopefully, it’ll be a sign of things to come and we can just keep building. We want to play them in the real thing and that’s what we are striving for.

“I would hope we could face them in the group stages of the Champions League in a few months time, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

McGregor came to the fore last season under Ronny Deila and so far this term he looks to have the faith of Brendan Rodgers. The midfielder has started the last two competitive games under the new Celtic boss and he will look to use tonight’s challenge as a way to press home his shout for a regular berth in what was be a new-look side as the season progresses.

“It’s still early doors and every game for me is about doing something which keeps me in the side, keeps me going forward,” said McGregor.

“We know there is a big squad and the gaffer has said that everyone is playing for their place.

“Everybody has that competitive edge anyway, but having that incentive can only drive the standards up in training and in games.

“I’ve had a couple of small chats with the manager and everything has been positive, in terms of how he wants us to play and the way he sees me playing.

“It’s positive and you just try to keep it going.

“You just focus and try to show as much as you can, which, hopefully, will keep you in the plans.”

The Hoops will look to mount a decent challenge against Barcelona in the Aviva stadium but it is Wednesday evening and the return leg against Astana that is the most crucial test they will face this week.

And McGregor will use the challenge of Barca to pave the way into the Champions League.

“All of the boys are looking forward to it and it’s another good test, against the best players in the world,” he said. “Games like this are ideal preparation for the Champions League matches.

“Last weekend, it was Leicester City before the first leg against Astana and now it’s Barcelona ahead of the second leg. It’s tough opponents, going up a level.

“It’s about fitness and sharpness at this stage of a season and facing this level of opposition is great for that.

“Barcelona always seem to hold us in high regard and, as a club, that is great to hear when big clubs and big players are saying that about you.

“It’s up to us to keep that going and do well against them.”