Martin O'Neill today warned that Celtic must not allow participation in the Champions League to distract them from winning the Scottish title.
The winners of the league will qualify automatically for the group stage of next year's Champions League for the first time and O'Neill believes that is the prize Celtic must concentrate on.
The Celtic manager said: "There's an enormous adrenaline feeling about being involved in the Champions League, there's no doubt about that.
"But this year is the first time the Scottish champions will go automatically into the group stage of the competition next year. That's why the domestic scene is so important - whoever wins will not have to play qualifying games before the season has even started."
Celtic narrowly missed out on qualifying from the Champions League first group stage two years ago and O'Neill hopes the experience - and disappointment - of losing in the final of the UEFA Cup last season will stand his players in good stead.
This season, there is no second group phase in Europe's elite club competition and Celtic showed during their UEFA Cup run that a straight knock-out holds no fears for them.
O'Neill added: "I would like to think that we have that bit of experience, that feeling of despondency and great disappointment from the final, and you would hope that would spur you on."
PA