CELTIC, with their priorities elsewhere, are likely to dip a toe rather than become fully immersed in European waters in Slovakia this afternoon.

If the temperature is not too severe, there is every likelihood of Celtic emerging undamaged from this first leg of the UEFA Cup qualifying round tie against FC Kosice.

This dilution of the Scots' commitment to what is normally a passionately-espoused cause stems from the need to overcome Rangers' domination of the Scottish game. Earlier in the summer, when it seemed possible that Celtic could be involved in a preliminary round tie in July, the manager, Tommy Burns, said that it would have less than his fullest attention.

"We have priorities in the domestic game," he said on arrival in a rainy Kosice yesterday, "and if we had been involved in a preliminary round tie, we would have treated it as a training game, no doubt about that.

"I was always adamant that our players should be properly rested and prepared for what we have to face in a long season. Now, we can devote more energy to Europe. But anything we get there will be a bonus. What we have to do for this club now is get used to winning trophies at home again."

The absence of the injured Alan Stubbs, the £3.5 million central defender from Bolton who was left in Glasgow, and Paolo di Canio, the midfielder bought from Milan for £1 million, leaves Burns with limited selection options, although he is hopeful that the Italian will be on the bench, with the possibility of "getting on for half-an-hour or so." He is left, however, with enough players with sufficient incentive to do well against opponents who boast several Slovakian internationals.

Earlier this year, Slovakia drew 1-1 with the Czech team who reached the final of Euro '96. Players such as midfielder Phil O'Donnell, defender Brian O'Neil and striker Jorge Cadete all missed virtually the whole of last season for a variety of reasons and go into the tie trying to win back something which has been taken from them.

O'Neil is typic having been out for 10 months with a knee injury and having looked seriously diminished on his return in the later stages of last season. In the pre-season outings, he has been a revelation, like a new player.

"Oh, I just wasn't right when I first came back, there's no doubt about that," O'Neil said yesterday. "The thing is, when you're physically below peak, you suffer mentally too. The little inhibitions which come with that length of absence are still with you.

"But since the start of pre-season training, I've been feeling very strong, very committed, very happy and completely without inhibitions. You have to be like that to perform properly at this level."

Even if there is an unmissable ambivalence about their ambitions, Celtic appear to have the basic talent to secure a result which will give them a favourite's chance of in the second leg in two week's hence, thereby qualifying for the first round proper.

Ally McCoist will search for another Rangers scoring record tomorrow as he bids to end his European goal drought.

McCoist, who scored in Saturday's 3-0 win over Arsenal in Richard Gough's testimonial, has failed to net in continental competitions for almost four years.

But he needs only one more goal to overtake Ralph Brand as the Glasgow club's top scorer in Europe and move off 12.

McCoist looks certain to be given the chance as Rangers meet Russians Alania Vladikavkaz at Ibrox in the first leg of their Champions' League preliminary round tie.

The veteran striker, who will be 34 next month, scored his last European Cup goal against Leeds United at Elland Road in November 1992.

He was taken off at half-time against Arsenal as a precaution by manager Walter Smith and is expected to face the Russians.

Paul Gascoigne is suspended for both matches after his red card in Dortmund last season.