After eight months of the game Brendan Rodgers has got the buzz back again.
Being out of management must have hurt the Irishman, being on the brink of taking Celtic into the group stage of the Champions League must be providing incredible satisfaction.
After kicking off his hoops career with a 1-0 loss to Lincoln Red Imps complacency is never going to become a factor.
Straight after that defeat in Gibraltar Rodgers claimed the result wasn’t an embarrassment- a sentiment that few Celtic fans agreed with.
Since then momentum has built, backing is 100% but the manager remains focussed and grounded about his primary task.
Looking at the task ahead of his side he admitted: “We respect Be’er Sheva and their qualities and they will be doing everything they possibly can to qualify.
“But the prize is with us and it is only for us to lose and we don’t intend to lose it very easily. I would be delighted of course to qualify.
“It has been our number one objective from the day we started.
“To lead Celtic into the Champions League would be a huge honour and great privilege.
“We have put in an awful lot of work, we have two hands on the prize and a tight grip on it and we just need to make sure we maintain that grip but we still know there is a bit of work to do.”
CRAIG GORDON
This could be one of the most important games in the keepers’ career.
Gordon has stated his desire to play in the Champions League group phase, the first challenge comes from Hapoel, another danger comes from Dorus de Vries.
Some fans criticised the hoops keeper for the first goal lost to Hapoel, that seemed a little harsh but he did pull off a great instinctive close range save later in the match.
A clean sheet would be very welcome!
SAIDY JANKO
Seems to be gaining the trust of Brendan Rodgers but lacks experience at this level and continuity in the Celtic side.
Mikael Lustig was the first choice right-back but looks increasingly vulnerable on the park with his place under serious threat from Janko.
The former Manchester United defender has yet to make a real impression on Celtic, helping the club into the group stage of the Champions League could be the start of his hoops career.
KOLO TOURE
This is the game, this is his moment.
When Brendan Rodgers completed the capture of the former Liverpool defender it was with this scenario in mind. Domestic success is fine but hosting group matches in the Champions League is where Celtic needs to be.
A few months ago Toure was appearing in the Europa League Final against Seville, with such a strong European CV he should be one of the leaders on the pitch organising a youthful defence and driving the club back into the big time.
EOGHAN O’CONNELL
Without particularly getting anything wrong O’Connell is facing some questions after being part of a defence that lost two quick goals in successive matches.
So far he has barely put a foot wrong, he has kept Erik Sviachenko on the bench, Tuesday night will be the latest test of many challenges and one that he has to succeed in.
O’Connell has stood up for himself well this season, some extra help and tapping into the experience of Kolo Toure will be needed to keep Hapoel out.
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KIERAN TIERNEY
Hapoel will provide a serious test of his ability and resolve, on the evidence of the last 11 months those challenges will be taken on with style.
Tierney’s defensive qualities will be given more of a test than anything he has faced previously, Hapoel will feel that his youth can be exploited.
The 19-year-old has been exceptional since getting his chance in last season’s Europa League and is now 90 minutes away from helping Celtic into the Champions League.
JAMES FORREST
An away European tie could be absolutely tailored for Forrest’s game- think the third goal at St Johnstone on Saturday.
His revival this season is one of the great u-turns of the game, no one could have guessed at it at the end of last season.
Three years ago he scored the goal against Shakhtar Karagandy that took Celtic into the group stages- hopefully qualification is less dramatic this time around. Without doubt a potential matchwinner.
SCOTT BROWN
The skipper’s revival has been as dramatic as any this season, as dramatic as his original shot against Hapoel compared to the fifth goal.
Without being put into a particular midfield role Brown manages to cajole and drive his team-mates on to greater heights with his own contribution increasing.
Having suffered the disappointments and desolation of successive Champions League ko’s from Maribor and Malmo his message in the huddle is likely to be short and to the point.
NIR BITTON
Made a telling impact from the bench as a substitute, earning himself a start at the weekend away to St Johnstone.
As well as his telling contribution to the way that the team plays his insight into Hapoel could be priceless.
Having joined Celtic during a Champions League season he’ll have felt the pain of the last two seasons stuck in the Europa League. At his best tomorrow he can put Hapoel on the back foot.
TOM ROGIC
There seems to be two certainties about Rogic’s starting appearances- he’ll score and be substituted during the last 20 minutes.
It was a surprise to many that he started last week’s match but netting the opening goal of the game more than justified his selection.
The left midfield position may not be his most natural position but with Tierney behind him, and over lapping, he can cut inside and test Hapoel out with his spectacular shooting.
SCOTT SINCLAIR
His bravery created the opening goal against Hapoel, it would have been nice if his late effort had found the net to make the lead 6-2!
With his pace and eye for goal he’ll be a constant worry to the Hapoel defence, any cavalier play from the hosts will leave them wide open to the counter attack.
Some players seem made for certain clubs, Brendan Rodgers’ faith in Sinclair never wavered. In 2011 he scored a hat-trick to take Swansea into the Premier League- can he do a similar favour for his old Swansea boss in Israel?
LEIGH GRIFFITHS
Is the joint leading scorer with five goals in the Champions League qualifiers, the on form striker will be confident of adding to that in Israel.
Last season no-one did more to put Celtic through against Malmo- his disappointment was real and is without doubt a major motivation this season.
Last week’s first leg turned on the strength of two devastating but very different goals from Griffiths, don’t bet against him finding the net again to book Celtic’s place in the group phase.