NIR BITTON, Celtic's Israeli midfielder, believes his side can cope with the intimidating atmosphere expected in the away leg of their Champions League play-off with Hapoel Be'er Sheva if they use their heads and stick to a game-plan which has so far served them well.

The partisan supporters of the Israeli champions are renowned for being the most vocal in the county and a full house is guaranteed, with only around 150 travelling from Scotland hoping to watch their team defend what is a convincing 5-2 aggregate lead.

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Bitton will obviously know more than most about what awaits Celtic next Tuesday and warned that despite the scoreline, the locals will remain 100 per cent behind their own players who have not given up hope of overcoming the odds and reaching the Champions League group stages for the first time in their history.The Herald: Celtic's Nir Bitton celebrates with Leigh Griffiths as Moussa Dembele puts his side 4-2 in front with a header. Picture: SNS

Celtic are favourites to get through after an incredible night on Tuesday and should do, according to Bitton, as long as th players focus and stay on the same page.

“We’ve been looking forward to this tie for ages – ever since the final whistle blew against Astana," said Bitton. "Now we have a good result to take over to Israel.

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“It will be an amazing atmosphere in their stadium. It only holds 16,000 fans but they will be with their team for the whole game.

“It’s their first chance to make it to the Champions league so it means everything to their fans. We just have to be smart – we have a three goal lead – and if we stick to our game-plan then hopefully we can go through.

“I’ve never played in this stadium before because it’s newly built but the fans will be the same as before. They are renowned as one of the best in Israel and especially now with their team on a high as champions.

“All the city is massively behind them – but it doesn’t alter our thoughts on the game. We are there to win and it’s that simple.”

Bitton admitted there were mixed emotions about him being part of an opposition which is hoping to end an Israeli side's hopes in the European Cup.

And any celebration next Tuesday will be a subdued one on a personal level given the unique circumstances.The Herald: Celtic's Leigh Griffiths nets his second of the night

“It’s not the perfect scenario for me," said Bitton. "It’s nice to celebrate in front of your family and friends but I will not go over the top in front of my own countrymen.

“The only thing I want is to go to the Champions League and who we beat to get there is not the main thing. Football is all about respect and it would not be right to show disrespect to this team and their fans.

“But Celtic is a side that deserves to be in the Champions league and tries to be there every year.

“Of course we will celebrate and be happy – but I have lots of friends in the Hapoel team, players I know from the national team and others I just know from playing against them. It was emotional to play against friends at Parkhead and it will be the same in Israel.

“At the moment it will be around 30 family and friends – it would be more if I could get more tickets.

“It’s nice for me to go back to Israel for the first time with Celtic and play against an Israeli team in front of my family.

“It’s always an emotional time, but I have to try and put it out my mind. It’s nice for the newspapers to write about and it’s good for my family to get me back home, but when I go out on the pitch then it has to be out of my head.

“I can’t get caught up in emotion as I try and help Celtic get to the Champions league."

Bitton came on in the second-half of Tuesday night's thrilling 5-2 win but would have a chance of starting the return leg as Rodgers will seek to see out the tie without anything silly happening.

Qualification to the group stages could earn Celtic as much as £20million or even more depending on who they were drawn against, which would be a welcome bonus for the and many fans believed this season would be too soon for a new manager who inherited a group of players lower on confidence than they might have been.

Rodgers to his immense credit has brought the squad together and is being rewarded with good performances throughout the team.

"Brendan is a top class manager," said Bitton. "I can’t say a bad thing about him. He’s been at the Premier League with Liverpool and Swansea and it’s great to work with him. I don’t like to compare with coaches in the past – all my coaches have improved me, but he is a top class."