Scott Brown, Gary Hooper and Joe Ledley are all in the Celtic team to face Benfica tonight.
The triple boost means that Neil Lennon is close to his strongest side for the crunch Champions League tie with only Emilio Izaguirre and James Forrest likely contenders for a starting place.
All three key men missed the 2-0 win at Aberdeen on Saturday but have been declared fit for the clash in the Stadium of Light. Kris Commons, Tony Watt and Beram Kayal drop out from the side that started at Pittodrie.
Looking forward to the tie Lennon said: “We might get two bites of the cherry but we would like to do it at the first time of asking.
“Benfica are formidable team at home and their domestic form is excellent, and they, like ourselves, go into the game on the back of a very good win.
“Against Benfica in the corresponding fixture 10 of our players made their Champions League debut so they have done very well.
“If we didn’t [qualify] then it might be an opportunity missed but I am not thinking of that.
“I am not going to set the team up defensively or play for a draw, we will try to play as we always do, to try to win the game and we will see what that brings but the players are in confident mood.”
A score draw or victory will book a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. If Celtic lose they will have to rely on getting a better result than Benfica in the final group match with Celtic at home to Spartak Moscow and Benfica away to Barcelona.
CELTIC: Forster; Lustig, Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews; Brown, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew; Hooper, Samaras
SUBS: Zaluska, Kayal, McCourt, Watt, Lassad, Commons, Miku
