In a light-hearted start to what is a very serious week for British tennis in Glasgow, Andy and Jamie Murray joined their Davis Cup teammates at Celtic Park to take on the crossbar challenge.

Captain of the Great Britain team Leon Smith will be hoping they make rather more of a fist of the challenge that lies ahead this weekend at the opposite end of Celtic Way against Australia at the Emirates Arena. Not one of our tennis stars managed to find the target.

Thankfully, they will be taking on Australia on the hard court with a tennis racquet in their hands, a setting that they feel infinitely more at home in. Indeed, feeling at home could be a critical factor, as local lad Smith admitted that the roar of a partisan Glasgow crowd could be just the thing to get the Brits over the line.

He said: “If it’s anything like the last time, which was one of the best we’ve had as a team (v USA in March), it will be great.

“Andy is playing in front of the biggest crowds, in the biggest stadiums in the world, but that was up there with anything in terms of noise level and excitement.

“When the option to come back to Glasgow became viable again, it was an easy decision.

“It was really special for a number of reasons. Scotland doesn’t get to see a lot of tennis, especially when we have someone like Andy Murray, Jamie as well, but particularly Andy.

“In the last tie here, he hadn’t been back since he’d won Wimbledon, so it was a special moment.

“And on the Friday, when the team was presented to the crowd, the noise when he walked out was as loud as we’ve ever heard in tennis.

“Hopefully we can have the same again. We are going to need it because it is going to be a tough tie and Friday is going to be important to get it going.

“The crowd is going to make a big difference and it can affect the Aussies as well, because they won’t be used to playing in an atmosphere like this.”

Despite main man Andy Murray exiting the US Open uncharacteristically early last week, his 2015 form as well as the stunning doubles form of his brother Jamie, who has contested the last two grand-slam finals, gives Smith cause for optimism.

“It’s a brilliant situation to come into,” he said.

“Jamie, making Wimbledon and US Open finals, is definitely playing the best tennis of his life. There’s no doubt about that.

“But Dom Inglot won an ATP event just before getting to the semi-final of the US Open itself.

“Whatever combination we put on Saturday - Andy/Jamie, Jamie/Dom or even Dom/Andy is a strong one for us.

“Jamie and Don played against the Bryans, who are the best of all time in the doubles and lost 9-7 in the fifth. They are both playing even better now.”

Smith, a boyhood Hoops fan, grew up cheering on his idols in green and white from the stands at Celtic Park. He’s now hoping that the current Celtic squad can return the favour after the small matter of their game against Dundee on Sunday.

“It would be great,” he admitted.

“I’m biased because I’m a Celtic fan and when this opportunity came along I jumped at it and forced them over the road with me!

“It’s brilliant to see inside the stadium. Having sat in the stands, it’s pretty special to be out on the pitch.

“My dad was brought up in Parkhead, so it is very close to me.

“Paul McStay and John Collins were my favourites and obviously Henrik Larsson.

“We had Alan Stubbs down at our last round because Andy and Jamie are Hibs followers. So Alan came down and had lunch with the team before we played France at Queens Club and we managed to get him on the court, despite the fact he was suited and booted.

“He wasn’t bad - he played pretty good for someone who claims he hadn’t played before.”