IF CELTIC can make it lucky 13 tonight in Milan, all of Scottish football should stand up and salute them. In a dozen attempts in 50 years, no team from our shores has ever managed to win in this capital of fashion.

Celtic themselves have tried four times, including in the 1970 European Cup Final against Feyenoord. Rangers have had a go, as have Hearts, Dundee, and, of course, Scotland.

But that elusive victory has eluded them all, with a not-so-proud record of 10 defeats and two goalless draws - both obtained by the Parkhead club.

Another draw - preferably of the score variety - would do tonight. But a win would really fire Celtic back on to the European map and put to bed once and for all the nightmare which is their away record in the Champions League.

The fact their one creditable result on the road is a 1-1 draw at the intimidating Nou Camp three years ago, should at least give heart to those who can already feel the beads of cold sweat ahead of tonight's moment of truth in the San Siro.

If the players are among those feeling apprehension, then Gordon Strachan's side could be beaten before they even hear the famous Champions League anthem.

Belief has been what he has been preaching since the goalless first leg. If he has truly converted his flock of players, something akin to a miracle could be performed here.

On paper, the side he has moulded and remodelled - often through injury-induced necessity - for the past 21 months should have little chance against Champions League and World Cup winners.

Even his most experienced man, skipper Neil Lennon, concedes that. But Celtic know the shortest-priced favourites don't always win, Artmedia taught them that.

And the longer they can retain a finger hold in this tie, the more the chances increase of a major upset. Which leaves the manager with the dilemma of which tactics to deploy.

Does he go for an offensive line-up in an attempt to keep Milan's full-backs - the key to their attacking - in check?

That could mean prodigal son, Thomas Gravesen, being welcomed back into the midfield family with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Kenny Miller using their height and pace to keep play in Milan's half.

Or, does Strachan go for the frustration factor, with Evander Sno alongside Lennon at the core of the midfield and perhaps Jiri Jarosik asked to provide the link with Vennegoor or Miller, the bonus being the Czech can also be useful aerially in either box?

The planning has been long debated between Strachan and his assistants Garry Pendrey and Tommy Burns. Tonight we will all be let into the secret.

Given that Stephen McManus will run through a brick wall to play, the only other issue appears to be whether or not Mark Wilson is fit enough, and indeed considered in good enough form, to win his place back from Paul Telfer.

Never everyone's idea of a man who can help take Celtic further in the Champions League than any Scottish club before them, Telfer does at least provide experience and nerve.

And, while never prepared to show his hand before he has to, Strachan is at least willing to give clues as to what thoughts are lurking inside his head.

He said: "I think the most experienced team would have to play. Hopefully, because they have been there before, they can help keep everyone else calm. The likes of Lenny has seen it all before. But on the whole, this team has never seen anything like this.

"People don't seem to recognise that. When you sit down and think about it, there is very little Champions League experience in our side.

"It's brand new to most of them, and usually a young side has to get battered a couple of times before they can progress.

"But they've managed to beat Benfica and Manchester United, and they drew with AC Milan. So fair play to them."

Strachan can only hope he is still singing their praises around 10pm tonight.

The chances are he will know their fate long before then, as the opening 20 minutes will surely be vital to the outcome of this tie.

That's in stark contrast to the recent history of Celtic on the road in Europe, as late collapses have more often than not been their undoing.

That litany of delayed disasters includes their last visit to the San Siro, which saw Lennon and Co on course for a precious point with the clock reaching 89 minutes, only for the roof to fall in as Milan capitalised on tired legs and minds to score two late goals and snatch a 3-1 victory.

Perhaps, therefore, the best approach tonight - for supporters' nerves if nothing else - will be to chase a goal right from the off and thus put Milan on the back foot as they would then need two to progress.

Given AC's poor scoring average this difficult season - and the fact they won't have the talents of Ronaldo to call upon - that might be a step too far for the San Siro side.

In Strachan's eyes, it would certainly seem more attractive than trying to sit in and chase the goal they need once the sting has been taken out of the game.

"I don't know we can do that," he said, with good reason. "We tried it against Benfica in Lisbon, and look what happened there (2-0 down inside 22 minutes). But there can be too much thinking done about that kind of thing, and you don't want to freeze the players by saying you can't make that kind of run or try this.

"What we will tell them is, play to your best ability. The longer we keep the ball, the less chance Milan will have of scoring a goal.

"That's the way we have got to try and work it."