IT might still feel like something of a footnote amid the post-Champions League gloom that has descended over Celtic in the past few days but under normal circumstances, a visit to Tynecastle to face Hearts in the Scottish Cup would be one of the occasions of the season.
And it won't take long in the angry ampitheatre of Gorgie today lunchtime for those competitive juices to start flowing again.
No-one knows more about that than Celtic's manager and captain; while two seasons have passed without incident since the night a fan leapt from these stands to assault Neil Lennon, Scott Brown also has his Hibernian connections to throw into the mix, a factor which ensures he always receives an extra special welcome on his visits there.
"I probably get more stick from the Hearts fans as a Celtic player than I did when I was at Hibs," Brown said. "But you have to go on the park and show them what you are made of. Tynecastle has been a good place for me recently. I scored there last season and hopefully I can continue that."
Brown's thirst for the challenge has only been whetted by his relegation to the role of spectator for the three matches which have defined Celtic's Champions League campaign - courtesy of that act of petulance against Barcelona's Neymar.
Although the Parkhead side won against Ajax without him, they could certainly have done with his drive and determination in the return match against the Dutch champions and in last week's collapse against AC Milan. However tough he has found it to sit and watch, he feels it is harsh to brand this campaign a failure.
"I don't think we have underachieved," said Brown. "We got to the Champions League and it's hard to get into. Not a lot of teams would want to be in that group. I know we only have three points, but three points is better than nothing."
Pitted against Barcelona and Milan, who boast the third and fourth biggest wage bills in European football respectively, Celtic's failure to repeat last year's qualification for the last 16 is a reassertion of the fact that money talks in European football.
Brown feels only further investment can propel Celtic forward, but he stopped short of criticising the club's directors for failing to back their manager sufficiently. "What do we need to succeed in Europe?" Brown said. "A lot of money. It would be nice to get some of the money the English clubs get. Even the relegated clubs get £60 million while we only get £2m or £3m if we win the league. Look at the Champions League group we are in. Those teams can buy anyone. It's always going to be harder for us."
He added: "It's hard for me to say [that Neil Lennon should be given more money] as he's brought in great players for not a lot of money. If he can keep doing that, we will all be happy. We need look everywhere for younger players - even in Scotland - for guys that can come in."
In addition to consolidating a squad capable of returning the club to the Champions League group stage next season, Lennon's job now is to ensure the rest of the season doesn't fall flat. It is a situation he had some experience of as a player, when Celtic finished bottom of their Champions League group in Martin O'Neill's last season in charge back in 2005.
"I think this [facing Hearts] is a good game to get our teeth into off the back of Tuesday," Lennon said. "It's a cup game and that always creates an extra atmosphere. It's our trophy and we want to defend it. People are saying all the pressure is on us, but what's new? The pressure is on us all the time."
Pressure also comes with the January transfer window, which is shaping up as a big one for the Parkhead side. The contract situation with Georgios Samaras and Joe Ledley must be resolved swiftly because the summer may be too late for major alterations to the squad, taking into account early Champions League qualifiers and the added complication of a World Cup year.
"I think the money is there, we may just need to force the issue a little bit more in January," Lennon added. "A striker is one I'd like to add and maybe a creative midfield player, a No 10 type, because we only really have Kris Commons for that role. Tom Rogic is still finding his feet. We also just have Emilio Izaguirre for the left-back area."
As demoralising as the last week must have been for him, the manager has shown no intention of packing it all in to move south of the border. "Nobody's picked up the phone," he said. "Nobody's shown any interest. I've got a job and I'm quite thankful for it."
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