Rennes are set to field a shadow side at Celtic Park later this month in Matchday Five of the Europa League.
The French side lost home and away to Cluj to end their hopes of progressing to the last 32 of the competition.
Although they have already qualified finishing in top spot in Group E finishing in top place should in theory give Neil Lennon’s side a better chance in the knock out draw. The Europa League group winners will face a runner-up or one of the four worst placed third placed sides dropping down from the Champions League.
If Celtic win at home to Rennes and Lazio beat Cluj on the same night hoops will be assured of top place with Rennes boss  Julien Stephan making that prospect more likely.
Speaking to The Sun he said:
I don’t view the two remaining games in the Europa League as not important. I see it as a great opportunity to use it to give our young players a chance to taste European football.
They will only learn by being put into an environment like Celtic Park so it will be excellent for them to experience this. When the draw was made, we were confident we could qualify, but it’s been disappointing.
For those who are criticising us for losing to Cluj, I would point out that this is the team who eliminated Celtic from the Champions League. We have shown inexperience in every game we have played in this group. But we will ultimately learn from this season’s matches in Europe.
Celtic opened their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Rennes with Ryan Christie scoring from a penalty and substitute Vakoun Bayo picking up a red card.