Not long after lifting the Scottish Cup Brendan Rodgers mentioned the six week gap until the opening Champions League qualifier.
Between Hampden and the first game of next season Rodgers has got plenty to do in terms of buying and selling and casting an eye over European opponents.
This season will be the last of the current qualifying campaign with Celtic facing three rounds through the Champions route to reach the group phase. At each round Celtic will be seeded.
Next season it will be a good bit different with four qualifying rounds likely with countries from higher up the co-efficient table being dumped into the Champions route to make way for the fourth placed teams in the four strongest leagues.
Since their fairly straightforward return to the Champions League in 2012/13 the qualifying route has become a minefield for Celtic with the results in the last fortnight in August largely shaping up the season ahead.
Names like Karagandy and Hapoel Beer Sheva have created fear and celebration while the two M’s of Maribor and Malmo are best muttered in hushed tones.
The first date to look out for is June 20th when the draw for the first and second rounds will be made, by August 24 we’ll know if the Champions League is returning to it’s most atmospheric venue.
Second qualifying round
The champions of Iceland, FH have worked their way into the seeded half of the draw alongside teams like Celtic, Red Bull Salzburg, Bate Borisov and Ludogorets.
Zalgiris Vilnius are the highest ranked potential opponents with Dundalk next on the co-efficient table.
This round tends to be split geographically although Lincoln Red Imps weren’t the closest of opponents last season. Closer to base The New Saints of Wales would be more welcome than Linfield.
Third qualifying round
Some more familiar and formidable opponents await at this stage with these matches played on July 26/27 and August 2/3.
Malmo and Astana are the toughest opponents at this stage, assuming they survive through the second qualifying round.
Down the co-efficient list FH of Iceland, Viitorul Constanta of Romania or Zilina of Slovakia should be less demanding with success at this stage ensuring a place in the Europa League group stage at least.
Play off round
The nitty gritty stage, squeaky bum time.
BATE Borisov, Legia Warsaw, APOEL (of Cyprus), Maribor and Qarabag are the sides scheduled to reach this stage but there are always casualties in the two previous rounds.
Or non footballing reasons Legia are best avoided but in all honesty all of these sides are beatable by a Celtic side playing to form.
The prize is huge- and that brings the tension and drama that will shape the reason and of course the transfer budget.