What is Ronny Deila's team going to be?
My guess, for what it's worth which is very little, is that the starting XI is: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Forrest, Rogic, Mackay-Steven; Griffiths
So no Stefan Johansen?
And no Kris Commons. That's my stab in the dark.
Commons did break his toe before a ball was kicked and that has held him back.
But there is clearly something else going on. He has been Celtic's best, or at least one of their best, players for four years now and yet he can't get a start..
He scores goals and no other midfielder does. For me, his continued absence is strange.
Ajax are no good any more
Not quite true. They are not as good as they used to be - they used to be the best team in the world - but even giants have to live with the little people for a while.
How much separates Celtic and the Dutch we will soon find out. However, Deila would take a point right now.
Ajax will control play and have more chances, that's a given, but they are beatable, so don't rule out Celtic coming away with something tonight.
That Celtic defence....
It needs to sharpen up. Jozy Simonovic has to be a good un because that back five have been poor so far.
They have trouble with crosses and conceding goals late on. This has to be sorted out.
Leigh Griffiths looks the part
Because he comes across as half-daft, and has been guilty of some gross idiocy, it's easy to forget what an intelligent footballer this guy is.
At 25, he is about to enter his peak years and right now looks the best chance of Celtic properly replacing Gary Hooper, who is still missed.
Griffiths has good movement and when given half a chance usually takes it.
But he does need help. In Malmo he was starved of service and Celtic have to do more to get the ball to him inside the box because if that happens he tends to score.
Can Celtic get through this group?
If they are to do so, they need to take points away from home, so a draw or win here would be appreciated.
Second place is possible.
Prediction
An honest one would be Ajax 2, Celtic 0
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