SHAUN MALONEY today split from the pack and declared tonight's opening Champions League tie against Aalborg is NOT a must-win game for the Parkhead club.

The only survivor in Gordon Strachan's squad from the side which contested the Uefa Cup Final in 2003 knows all about what it takes to succeed at this level.

But, while almost everyone else - his manager included - insists it is vital they kick off Group E with a home win against the minnows from Denmark, Maloney reckons even a draw would not spell disaster.

The 25-year-old Scotland cap, who returned to the club last month after an unhappy 19 months at Aston Villa, reckons avoiding defeat is what is imperative.

Strachan - with a full squad to choose from after Mark Wilson and Paul Hartley declared themselves fit - would appreciate the same start as his team delivered against Motherwell on Saturday.

Maloney - who opened the scoring at Fir Park - agreed, and said: "That would be massive. But victory would be massive for us, however it comes. If it doesn't happen for us and it ends in a draw, it's not the end of the world. We still have a game away at Aalborg and other games which we think we can win."

Maloney continued: "It's just going to be a massive game and the crowd is such a big factor on nights like this. It is not a must-win or anything like that, but it would be great if we could start off with three points."

Maloney accepts that, as they are up against the team from Pot 4, Celtic are expected to gain a rare opening win.

But he has been around the European scene long enough to know it is not always as cut and dried as it looks on paper. FC Cluj's shock win in Italy against Roma last night is a timely reminder seedings and the bookies odds mean nothing when the action begins.

Maloney warned: "It's going to be a really tough game against Aalborg.

"These teams can cause you trouble. I'll be expecting exactly the same against Aalborg.

"We played Copenhagen a couple of years ago and we saw how good they could be, when they beat us 3-1 in Denmark. Aalborg will be as good, if not better.

"But because of the pot situation, you are expected to win this game. I don't think it always works out that way."

If it was as simple as saying a team from one pot will always beat a team from a lower pot, then Celtic - ranked the third-best team in Group E behind Manchester United and Villarreal - would already be resigned to accepting the best they could achieve this season would be to parachute into the Uefa Cup.

"Exactly," agreed Maloney. "You hope the pot system is not going to determine how the group ends."

Maloney admitted Champions League nights were one of the main reasons he wanted to return to Celtic, and hopes he can retain his starting place tonight after beginning so many previous big European matches on the bench.

He said: "I would not consider myself to be overly experienced in the Champions League. You only get that experience when you actually play in these games.

"I've heard you come along and soak it all in. But I think if you play, you get that experience."

Live coverage of tonight's match on Sky Sports Extra, 7.45pm.