Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hopes a first Europa League win of this campaign will provide the spark to kick-start their season.
After dropping out of Champions League qualification, Celtic have just one point from their opening two league stage fixtures before hosting Sturm Graz.
Rodgers conceded the club is in a “tough moment” sitting five points adrift of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, who they face this weekend at Tynecastle, following defeat by Dundee, with fan anger consistently being directed at the club’s board following a disappointing summer recruitment window.
“It’s a must-win game tomorrow, in whichever way you want to look at it,” Rodgers explained, referring to challenges on and off the pitch.
“For us to compete in the Europa League, we want to get up and running.
“We had two home games in the spin in this competition and we wanted to take the points in those. We haven’t done that.
“We now come up against a really good team, another big challenge for us and we’re going to be ready for that.
“We want to get a performance level that can inspire that confidence. And, in every which way, to give a better feeling to supporters off the pitch.”
“We’ve now studied Sturm Graz and they’re a really good side and score lots of goals. Very direct, good speed and changed the system slightly in terms of being in Europe to 4-2-3-1 in the opening games of this competition.
“We’re at home, we want to get a first win in the competition and hope that it can provide the lift off for our season.”