Brendan Rodgers faces a race against time to finalise Celtic’s Champions League playoff squad, with the registration deadline fast approaching ahead of two ties that could be worth £40 million to the club.

The Hoops will discover on Tuesday night whether their final hurdle to the league phase comes in the shape of Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava.

The Kazakh outfit hold a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg and travel to Slovakia for the decider, with Celtic’s analysts keeping a close watch on proceedings.

Whoever emerges will head to Glasgow for the first leg on Wednesday, August 20, before the return match the following Tuesday, August 26. The draw has handed Rodgers and his squad home advantage to open the tie, but the manager’s immediate concern lies with the paperwork.

UEFA’s cut-off for registering the bulk of the squad is Thursday, August 14, leaving Celtic just days to make any necessary adjustments. While there is provision to add two extra players up to 24 hours before the first whistle, the core list must be submitted in full this week.

Rodgers has been candid about the situation, admitting that while the club continues to work behind the scenes, there is no guarantee fresh faces will arrive before the main deadline. The boss has made no secret of his desire to strengthen in key areas, but market negotiations remain finely balanced.

The playoff stage represents not just a shot at Europe’s elite competition, but a direct financial injection that would allow further squad investment before the transfer window closes. Celtic’s preparations have been tailored with the high stakes in mind, yet uncertainty over personnel remains an unwelcome distraction.

Supporters will expect the strongest possible line-up to be in place for what is widely regarded as the club’s most important tie of the season so far. With the registration date now within touching distance, Rodgers and his recruitment team are working against the clock to ensure every available advantage is secured before the first ball is kicked at Celtic Park.

The coming days will determine not only the identity of Celtic’s opponents, but the depth of resources Rodgers has at his disposal for the club’s richest prize.