With Patrick Roberts back in the fold Celtic are, on paper at least, looking like having a very strong squad.
Not strong in terms of Bayern Munich or Paris St Germain but surely competitive enough to fancy our chances of edging the head-to-head with Anderlecht and picking up something from the home matches against the big hitters.
The return from injury of Eboue Kouassi should provide a boost at some stage while Olivier Ntcham looks a Champions League performer giving Brendan Rodgers the luxury of deciding whether Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong or Callum McGregor is best suited for the advanced midfielder role.
Defence is another matter entirely, highlighted by the recent glut of injuries.
While another striker would be nice before the transfer window closes if Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths are both fit our priority must be in strengthening the defence.
Neither Dedryck Boyata or Erik Sviatchenko have really imposed themselves on the team while Jozo Simunovic is linked with a departure in every transfer window.
From a position of strength thanks to wise management and back to back Champions League campaigns there has rarely been a better time to go into the transfer market even allowing for the outrageous inflation down south.
Finding a defensive Ntcham or Dembele is a tall order but bringing in another Virgil van Dijk or the 2017 Simunovic would set the tone for the season and another term of spectacular progress.
Over the last couple of games he has been overkeen to get involved outside of the penalty box with unnecessary risks being taken.
He came back into the side 11 months ago against Manchester City and needs to regain that level of concentration for the weeks ahead.
Like many he found the second half in Astana more testing than anticipated but for now remains the first choice right-back.
There’s unlikely to be too many attacking opportunities in the Champions League which should suit Lustig with his old ‘friend’ Neymar his first opponent.
His summer break was minimal but the sound of the Champions League anthem should work wonders for another season at least.
Hopefully the offers and distractions put his way are cast aside as he concentrates on six massive challenges over the coming months- all of them played on grass.
Last season’s Champions League campaign largely passed him by, hopefully he can be a major influence on this season’s adventures.
Brendan Rodgers was able to play the Kolo card a year ago, in other circumstances Steven Caulker could have been that player but the timing doesn’t seem right.
The re-emergence of Dedryck Boyata has provided some sort of option but from all the scouting reports and data base updates hopefully there is someone ready to come in lead a defence.
Attacking is his biggest strength but in the Champions League his defensive attributes will be tested out.
More and more eyes are watching KT, Bayern were credited with an interest in him last season but his focus is all on Celtic rather than a shop window.
The skipper was a revelation in last season’s competition and should be even stronger alongside Olivier Ntcham and team-mates with a years experience under his belt.
There will be less onus on him to carry and support younger team-mates and more opportunity to influence in other ways.
With possession likely to be tilted against Celtic Brown will be in his element knowing that he is trusted by one of the top coaches in the game.
In both matches against Astana he excelled in a number of different roles with his goal in Kazakhstan calming many nerves.
His experience with Genoa and the French u21 side will have him well prepared but these Champions League opponents are another level entirely.
Roberts showed that he has the temperament for the big occasion, in the Champions League ties away to Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City he showed that he has the game to open up defences.
Rodgers knows that these type of players are rarely available to Celtic, having plotted all summer for his arrival he’ll have plenty of ideas what he wants to do with the on loan Manchester City winger.
Rodgers has worked carefully with the Australian to find the position that best suits his range of skills with goalscoring the key.
Hovering around in front of the midfielders and behind the striker can open up all sorts of options with Rogic’s close control and accurate shooting capable of causing difficulties for any opponents.
On his game, which is often, he is unplayable with opponents unable to prevent him from cutting in from the left flank and firing in his trademark right foot shot for the postage stamp corner.
After a season playing alongside his team-mates they understand his game perfectly, knowing how to get the maximum benefit from a goalscorer who is neither a midfielder or a winger.
When it comes down to a straight choice with Leigh Griffiths Brendan Rodgers will almost always side with the former Fulham man.
Although it’s not far off six months since he was on top of his game the Celtic boss knows that Dembele has the combination of skills that puts fear into any defence.
Dembele knows that it’s in the Champions League that he is judged- after last season the mystery has gone replaced by expectation and respect from opponents.
If it’s not quite happening Stuart Armstrong or Callum McGregor can be thrown on, Nir Bitton can go into either of the holding midfield positions while James Forrest can play in any of the front four positions.
Anthony Ralston and Dedryck Boyata allow the defence to be rearranged, up front Leigh Griffiths is itching to get a chance to come on and prove his worth.