Attention is turning to European qualification prospects for Scotland's leading clubs after the opening weekend of the SPFL season produced plenty of talking points, including Celtic's victory over Dundee.
The result, which opened the top-flight campaign, has prompted debate about whether Martin O'Neill's Celtic side are truly prepared for the demands of a pivotal Champions League play-off tie. While the win offered some encouragement, questions remain over the club's readiness to compete at that level so early in the season, with supporters said to be growing impatient over the pace of the club's transfer activity.
At the other end of the pitch, Dundee's performance under manager Steven Pressley has also drawn scrutiny. Despite the defeat, there is a feeling that the Dee showed enough promising signs to suggest their manager could afford to be more ambitious in his approach this season. The match served as an early gauge of where both sides currently stand, with Celtic needing to sharpen up before facing sterner continental opposition and Dundee looking to build on positive elements from their display.
Beyond Celtic and Dundee, focus has shifted to the wider picture of Scottish football's European ambitions. Rangers, Hearts, Hibernian and Motherwell all have qualifying campaigns on the horizon, each hoping to navigate their respective paths into lucrative group-stage competition. With four clubs from the same footballing nation attempting to progress through continental qualifiers simultaneously, comparisons are inevitably being drawn over which side faces the most difficult route to the finish line.
The question of which Scottish club has been handed the toughest draw is one that has occupied pundits as the qualifying rounds approach. Rangers, historically one of the country's most successful European campaigners, will be expected to negotiate their ties with authority, though the unpredictability of continental football means no fixture can be taken for granted. Hearts and Hibernian, both aiming to add continental football to their domestic campaigns, face their own set of challenges as they look to secure passage into the group stages of their respective competitions. Motherwell, meanwhile, will be looking to make the most of their European opportunity against sides who may have greater resources but not necessarily greater application.
For Celtic, the stakes are arguably highest given the financial and prestige implications of qualifying for the Champions League proper. A poor start domestically, even if ultimately overcome as it was against Dundee, has raised legitimate concerns about squad depth and preparation heading into a play-off that could define the club's European season. Analysts have pointed to the frustration among supporters regarding the speed of incoming transfers, suggesting that reinforcements may be needed before the crucial ties take place.
Dundee's display, while ending in defeat, has been viewed by some observers as a platform from which Pressley could look to build a more expansive style of play. The suggestion that the club should show greater ambition reflects a belief that the squad may be capable of more than a purely defensive approach, particularly against a Celtic side that appeared vulnerable at times.
As the qualifying rounds draw nearer, attention will increasingly focus on how each of Scotland's European hopefuls fare in matches that could shape not only their season but also the country's continental coefficient. With Rangers, Hearts, Hibs and Motherwell all chasing group-stage football, the coming weeks promise to reveal which club truly faces the steepest climb.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.