THERE is a temptation, seldom resisted, to scrutinise a match just played to find pointers for an upcoming tie.

This, in terms of potential accuracy, is akin to looking at chicken entrails to divine the first six home in the Grand National.

Every match carries its individual circumstance, its own narrative and its singular significance. The idea of surveying Rugby Park for evidence of Celtic's potential against Barcelona would have been as absurd as giving Morton a chance against the reigning Premier League champions on the back of their 2-0 defeat against Queen of the South last weekend. Tomorrow, Celtic step under the Parkhead floodlights not to face the pride of Greenock in a domestic cup but the heroes of Cataluyna in the world's most important club competition.

Rugby Park on Saturday offered several truths but their impact on the rest of the season depends on factors that can not yet be accurately assessed. First, Celtic won comfortably and were never fully extended. Secondly, Kilmarnock resemble Barcelona only in that both teams are governed ultimately by FIFA.

The downside for Celtic on a glorious Ayrshire day was restricted to the sickness suffered by Adam Matthews and the flaws in a defence that conceded two goals and gave Kris Boyd early chances which he could not convert.

Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, is hopeful that the Welsh full-back will recover and his pace and directness would be important against Barcelona. The defensive worries are a persistent toothache. Emilio Izaguirre, at fault for the second Kilmarnock goal, is still far from convincing. Virgil van Dijk was sloppy in conceding the foul that led to the first, a free kick by Sammy Clingan. Efe Ambrose continues to have moments that would bring out a watching bomb-disposal expert in tremors. However, Fraser Forster, the imposing goalkeeper, was fully effective against limited opposition and will need to be at his very best tomorrow.

Lennon and the Celtic support could look with considerable cheer on much of the rest. Scott Brown is highly effective in his disciplined role in front of the back four, though his finishing could tempt a frustrated observer to hand him a banjo and point him in the direction of a herd of unsuspecting Friesians.

Charlie Mulgrew, though, was the pick of the midfield on Saturday. It is sobering to note that he was sent to Wolverhampton Wanderers with £600,000 of Celtic money in return for Lee Naylor in 2006. This is the sort of trading that leads to revisionism over just how bad a deal the Native Americans made when selling Manhattan for some mirrors and beads. It is not that the 27-year-old is a stellar talent but rather he is a player whose return on a free transfer has paid a spectacular dividend. Mulgrew is decent at left-back, an option in central defence and is now playing in his best position in central midfield. He worked hard and long on Saturday and his distribution was meticulous. His free kicks will be an important part of any Celtic threat tomorrow.

But if Mulgrew was almost quietly impressive, the man of the match, the diva of the decade and the hero of Heraklion was, of course, Georgios Samaras. His manager described the 28-year-old Greek internationalist as "world class" and while that assessment will keep the phone-in lines busy there was no doubt about his effect on Saturday's proceedings and, indeed, his potential to be highly influential tomorrow. His first goal was brilliantly executed and he danced through the Kilmarnock defence at will. His headed goal to complete his hat trick was a reminder that he is strong in the air, and that could be of considerable benefit yet again in the Champions League.

The verdict is mixed on the strikers. Anthony Stokes continues to work hard, though he can make the wrong choice. Teemu Pukki smacked one shot off the bar but otherwise seemed off the pace and Amido Balde provided the moment of the day for this observer when his stumbling run towards goal was met by deeply cynical comments from spectators in front of the press area. The big striker silenced this impertinence with an emphatic shot inside the post.

Supporters and sympathisers of Kilmarnock argued later that the scoreline harshly treated the Ayrshire side. But they give away goals cheaply - conceding 10 in seven games ahead of Saturday's meeting. This vulnerability on the field is accompanied by increasing pressure on Michael Johnston, the chairman, off it, with a protest outside a stadium that contained just more than 6000 fans on Saturday, most of them roaring on the champions.

Clingan, who scored his side's first goal, would not comment on the fans' protest, saying: "We have just got to concentrate on what happens on the field. What happens off the field, we leave up to other people."

He was, though, precise on his team's failings. "We are conceding too many goals. That's not just about the defence, we have to defend from the front as a team. If we do that, then we have people like Boydy who can score at the other end."

It promises, however, to be a difficult season for Kilmarnock. It will, of course, be a difficult night for Celtic tomorrow but they approach it in fine spirit, albeit knowing it will require more than strength of will.