Celtic captain Scott Brown has claimed that the Champions League playoff tie against Shakhyor Karaganda will provide his side with their two biggest matches of the season.

Celtic face an away trip to Kazahstan in the first leg, which takes place tomorrow night, and Brown believes that Karaganda will pose a serious threat to his side and that a draw would be a good for result for them tomorrow.

"The players understand his huge this is, how big Celtic are and why we should be in the Champions League. The two ties are huge, the biggest of the season and we are only three or four weeks in," said Brown, according to PA.

"We we were back really early, it was a hard pre-season but we are starting to see the benefits now. I feel we are fitter and sharper than this time last season. Not having long off during the close season has helped get up to match speed quicker.

"But it is going to be very hard. We have seen videos of our opponents. A draw is a good result for us going back to Celtic Park."

Karaganda have won the Kazakhstan league for the last two seasons but have never reached the group stages of any European competition.