When Celtic return to action on Wednesday night against BW Linz it will be with a much changed side to the team that lifted the Scottish Cup in May with a thrilling 2-1 win over Aberdeen.
Some of Brendan Rodgers’ internationalists have only had 10 days break and have less than a week of training under their belt.
A ten day break doesn’t allow players to get out of shape but already Rodgers will have his plans in place for the players to resume full fitness.
The third round qualifiers of the Champions League will be the date that the Irishman has in mind for getting his top men in form with the outing against RW Linz long forgotten by then.
In the first of the four pre-season qualifiers Rodgers is likely to leave his international players out of the starting XI which gives other players the chance to steal a march in terms of fitness and form.
For players like Liam Henderson and Eboue Kouassi the match will be pretty important with both players struggling for game time in the run in to the season.
Development team trio Jamie McCart, Calvin Miller and Jack Aitchison will also feature knowing that the demands are high but the rewards impressive if they can follow Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney into the first XI.
Dorus de Vries
It’s been a helluva long wait for de Vries to get another chance with Craig Gordon becoming very protective of his place in the side.
De Vries never got a single opportunity to stand in as deputy but should be able to take up that role for this season.
Chris Sutton would like to see a new keeper brought in but with Brendan Rodgers going on record as saying he is expecting just one signing it looks like Gordon’s place in the team is secure.
Eboue Kouassi
Mikael Lustig was playing for Sweden just over a fortnight ago while young pretender Anthony Ralston is injured.
At this stage of the season it’s about fitness and game time with this match giving the teenager a great chance to get involved.
With so much competition for place Koussi has his work cut out to get into the Celtic side but was bought as a potential Champions League starter with Rodgers banking on him making a big impact.
Jozo Simunovic
Ended last season as a cult figure and will be looking to make a similar impact this season.
He missed out on the whole of the pre-season preparation 12 months ago but now has the chance to really cement his place in the side despite repeated rumours of interest from elsewhere.
Central defence carried a big question mark last season, resolving that issue will be a priority for the Celtic boss.
Erik Sviatchenko
The second half of last season must have been a major disappointment for the Dane who missed out on the big occasions to Dedryck Boyata.
Earlier in the campaign he was discussed as a future captain but there is no room for sentiment when Rodgers puts the names on his team sheet.
He has a lot to prove but has shown the right attitude with a lot of highs and lows packed in to 18 months at Celtic.
Calvin Miller
Will want to grab every chance possible to impress Rodgers who switched him from left midfield to left back last season and handed Miller his first team debut.
Being picked to travel with the first team must be a major boost but one that is also demanding.
Kieran Tierney is out on his own as first choice left-back but Miller is adaptable and could find himself edging in to the first team picture.
Callum McGregor
Finished last season as a runaway train going from strength to strength after a long apprenticeship.
Back to back goals against Sevco and a worldy against St Johnstone were the signs of a confident player on top of his game.
McGregor has had to scrap for every single appearance since making a scoring debut in Iceland and will continue showing that attitude in the season ahead.
Nir Bitton
It’s difficult to see much of a future at Celtic for a midfielder that still holds international ambitions.
In the real world be is possibly behind McGregor, Armstrong and Kouassi for a place alongside Scott Brown.
After four years at Celtic he probably knows that it is time to move on with his style of play more suited for playing elsewhere.
James Forrest
Will have been disappointed to miss out towards the end of the season but had a big role to play in the treble success.
A year ago he looked on his way out the door but can enjoy his pre-season work knowing that he has the backing of his manager.
Injury problems finally seem to have been kicked into touch leaving Forrest to hone his skills with his accurate crossing a big feature of the treble success.
Liam Henderson
It’s a massive couple of weeks for the midfielder who is desperate to impress, perhaps too keen.
Hendo has everything that you’d look for in a midfielder but isn’t really any closer to a regular place.
With Scott Allan and Ryan Christie out on loan he has a clear run at trying to break into Rodgers’ top team plans.
Jonny Hayes
Massive game for the Dubliner who caused Celtic more problems last season than any other opponent.
It’s a big leap to move from Aberdeen to Celtic but no one understands Hayes better than his former Reading mentor.
His signing didn’t excite the support but in the coming months he’s likely to have a big role to play on all fronts.
Jack Aitchison
At 17 years of age he has ability and a game awareness far beyond his age.
After excelling in youth team football he has to handle the transition through to playing at the highest level for the top team in the country.
A big dilemma will be whether his development is best served staying at Celtic or going out on loan, every top Championship side in Scotland would jump at the chance of bringing Jack in to their squad.