Last Updated: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:23
Celtic may have to overcome the loss of Paul Hartley for tough away trips to St Mirren and Aalborg after he sustained an ankle injury.
Hoops boss Gordon Strachan is facing up to being without half his first choice engine room, as well as handling a well-documented striker crisis, for two matches which could shape the rest of the season.
Celtic must avoid the same fate as Old Firm rivals Rangers, who were beaten at Love Street, against the Buddies on Saturday to ensure they stay at the top of the SPL table.
Then Strachan takes his depleted troops to Denmark with the task of maintaining a challenge for the Champions League knockout phase, or at the very least locking up UEFA Cup qualification.
Claim your £10 free bet and get involved in the action ahead of this massive week for the club.
Marc Crosas and Aiden McGeady have been absent in recent games, while Barry Robson was forced to miss Scotland's clash with Argentina because of a tight groin and he remains a doubt.
Hartley was also forced to limp out of the 1-0 friendly defeat against Argentina on Wednesday just before the hour mark and is in a race to be fit for the SPL clash against the Saints and next Tuesday's Champions League clash at Aalborg.
"I came off after 60 minutes with a knock and I'll need to see the medical staff at Celtic before I know if I'll be fit for the weekend," said Hartley.
"I've taken a kick on my ankle, it's swollen up and it's stiff just now.
"It's obviously not what my club manager wants to hear. We have a fair amount of injuries already and Barry Robson has been injured too.
"I just hope I'll be okay for Saturday and I'll see how it goes over the next 48 hours.
"If I can, I would rather play both against St Mirren and Aalborg, but we'll need to see what happens."