Dorus de Vries has waited eighteen months to make his European debut at Celtic Park.
After signing from Nottingham Forest he was quickly installed as first choice keeper and enjoyed home wins over Aberdeen and Sevco.
A 7-0 defeat away to Barcelona was a career low point with Craig Gordon back in favour for the 3-3 thriller with Manchester City.
Brendan Rodgers rejected offers for de Vries during the summer with Gordon’s knee injury opening the door for a potential treble win and a night under the European lights at Celtic Park.
“The biggest difference in playing here to playing in the Championship in England, and with the lower teams in the Premier League is that at Celtic you have European football and some big games,” the keeper told The Sun.
“Though every game we play here is big because in every game people are expecting you to win. The whole experience since I have arrived has been great.
“The European nights are special, but I have to say every game at Parkhead is special, and I mean that. Our support is magnificent.
“When you have the big games the atmosphere is incredible. I’ve had family and friends here who have said the same thing.
“They even enjoy the league games as much as the European nights, they say it is always something to look forward to.”
De Vries is expected to be in the spotlight on Thursday night as Celtic’s much changed central defence face another tough test.
Kris Ajer seems a certain starter to face Zenit but it’s unclear whether he will be joined by Jack Hendry, Nir Bitton or Jozo Simunovic.
