It had been a solid return to the Celtic dugout for Martin O'Neill – but a crushing midweek defeat in Midtjylland means Kilmarnock are facing a wounded animal at Parkhead today.
Back-to-back wins over Falkirk and Rangers represented a dream start but Thursday's 3-1 defeat in Denmark once again exposed the glaring weaknesses that have seen the champions fall a country mile behind Hearts.
Further domestic stumbles simply aren't an option if they want to retain their crown so a win today is non-negotiable.
But Killie know all about how to upset the apple cart against the big boys. They've been the undoing of Celtic in the past and the Hoops needed a 97th minute penalty to get the better of them back in September.
They're also stinging after four successive defeats and after a good start to the season, they find themselves in a precarious position just two points off bottom.
Celtic starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson-Pusey, Trusty, Scales, Sarachhi; McGregor, Hatate; Tounekti, McCowan, Maeda; Kenny. Subs: Sinisalo, Nygren, Balikwisha, Yang, Yamada, Engels, Murray, Ralston, Tierney
Kilmarnock starting XI: Beach, Brown, Williams, Stanger, Deas, Thompson, Lowery, Watson, Lyons, Tiffoney, Anderson Subs: Armour, Watkins, Schilte-Brown, Dackers, John-Jules, Leslie, Kiltie, Brannan, Polworth
It's a game where both teams could really do with a positive result and you can follow it all with us right here LIVE.
Marley Watkins is back in the squad and last week's goalscorer Tyreece John-Jules has to make to with a place on the bench.
Kilmarnock starting XI: Beach, Brown, Williams, Stanger, Deas, Thompson, Lowery, Watson, Lyons, Tiffoney, Anderson
Subs: Armour, Watkins, Schilte-Brown, Dackers, John-Jules, Leslie, Kiltie, Brannan,
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