Ross County manager Jim McIntyre says his side must be rigid to combat the threat of champions Celtic at Parkhead this afternoon.
The Staggies are optimistic ahead of the new season after ending last campaign with 10 wins from their last 14 matches. However, their opening day Premiership test is a tough encounter against the Hoops.
County lost 5-0 at home against Ronny Deila’s side last October, prompting McIntyre to adapt to a more containing system in their subsequent meetings with the Hoops, producing a 0-0 draw at Parkhead in December and a 1-0 defeat at Dingwall a month later.
McIntyre’s Staggies will take a cautious approach in Glasgow today.
He said: “We got a great result the last time we went to Parkhead in December. We went there with a game plan whereby we tried to take something out of the match.
“We’ve got to be positive but, at the same time, we know Celtic’s qualities. We can see that already with the goals they’re putting in.
“We’ve got to be mindful of how dangerous they are. The first game we played them here last season, we tried to press them high and we got a chasing.
“The next two games we made sure we were difficult to beat and picked up a point in one of them while the other was a late-goal defeat.
“From that point of view, it’ll be a similar type of performance that will be required. Whenever we go to Parkhead we always know we have to be at our best, we’ve got to have everyone at it.
“Our goalkeeper is going to need to make saves. But it’s up to us to go there and put on as good a performance as we can.”
Celtic are between crucial European ties, holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie against Azerbaijan outfit FK Qarabag, but McIntyre said: “I think they’ve got the depth in their squad to cope with the fixtures.
“They’re a massive club and they’ve got good players.
“It’s all about what happens on the day. As other teams have proved before, we can go there and get a result. We’ve got to believe we can do that.”