Arguably, the three biggest teams in Scotland right now - Rangers, Celtic and Hearts - are all in action tomorrow night in the Europa League, fighting to qualify for the slightly lucrative group stages.
Should any or all qualify, they will then play another six games, three home and three away, against teams from all over the continent including some big names like Juventus.
On paper, then, this should be a mouthwatering prospect. Sadly, for both Rangers and Celtic, I don't think it is. As for Hearts, we'll get to them in a moment.
Both Rangers and Celtic feel that their natural continental home should be the Champions League, and given the size and status of both clubs, it's hard to disagree, especially given that the CL is not limited to just champions of Europe's domestic top flights.
However, thanks to failings to beat Malmo on Rangers' part and Celtic's inability to topple Rangers' domestic dominance in the SPL, the Europa League is where both are headed. The most important thing for both clubs, let's be honest, is the cash.
The money received from competing in the Europa League isn't bad, with clubs receiving approx. £70,000/£35,000 for a win/draw respectively, with cash on top simply for competing in the tournament. Add in ticket sales, extra TV rights and bric a brac like programme sales, pies and what have you and the EL looks a tasty prospect.
Not so, for the pure and simple reason of money. The income received from EL participation is roughly 1/10th of that which you'd receive from competing in the CL. Figures released this week show that Rangers made £16.8 million from competing in the CL last season. A tenth of that would be just under £2 million. That's a hell of a drop and missing out on it hurts teams - look at the fallout from the Kaunas debacle for Rangers or Celtic's overall accounts later this month to see how much missing out on the CL hurts.
Rangers' Slovenian opponents NK Maribor should not, on paper at least, pose any immediate threat towards the Scottish champions, but people said that about Malmo as well. Should be a tough away tie for Rangers, but most are these days in Europe. Probable starting XI - McGregor, Edu, Broadfoot, Goian, Wallace, Davis, Ness, McCulloch, Ortiz, Naismith, Jelavic in a 4-5-1/4-4-1-1 lineup.
Celtic have less to fear with Swiss opposition FC Sion, who are currently battling with UEFA over the eligibility of several of their big players involving a transfer embargo. Decision yet to be handed down, but you'd have to assume a home win for Celtic would be on the cards. Probable starting XI - Zaluska, M. Wilson, K. Wilson, Majstorovic, Mulgrew, Brown,, Ledley, Commons, Ki, Maloney, Stokes in a 4-4-2 or possibly even a 4-3-3.
Hearts. Ah, the Jam Tarts. They have undoubtedly been dealt a winner with this draw - Tottenham Hotspur, At least, what's left of Tottenham after the riots. Not to disrespect Hearts, but the Europa League is about their level and you would have fancied them against most other teams in the pot apart from Spurs. As it is, they've got the glamour tie and will get a nice fat cheque from whichever broadcaster is showing the tie, since we know Rangers lucked out with Setanta Ireland (Premier Sports to you and me) and the Celtic home game may only be on Channel67.
You have to fear for Hearts, as Spurs have already come out and said that they won't be fielding a weakened side, so Spurs are the unquestionable favourites. Probable Hearts XI - Kello, Jonsson, Zaliukas, Grainger, Hamill, Novikovas, Templeton, Mrowiec, Robinson, Stevenson, Sutton in a 4-4-2. That is, if Jonsson and Novikovas pass late fitness tests, if not, Skacel and McGowan may make the starting side.
Predictions - Maribor 1-2 Rangers, Celtic 3-0 Sion, Hearts 1-2 Spurs.
Good luck Rangers and Hearts.
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