An early corner is conceded by Accies and Christopher Jullien rises to bullet a header towards goal.

However, goalkeeper Ryan Fulton saves comfortably low to his right.

Celtic get the game under way after both sets of players take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign. Will it be the first kick towards a 10th consecutive title for the Glasgow club?

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice speaks passionately about his team's chances.

"It's flag day for Celtic, it's not flag day for Hamilton Accies," he tells BBC Radio Scotland. "We are here to try and get something out of the game.

"This is their day, but it's only their day until the game kicks off. I need it to be a contest, we need to compete.

"Anything is possible. We've got to try and stick to the game plan. Why can't somebody be a hero for us today?"

The surreal scene is complete as the fireworks hail the unfurling of the league flag amid recorded fan applause.

Celtic captain Scott Brown enters the scene with the Premiership trophy.

Here come the teams into the ghostly atmosphere at Celtic Park, with Accies giving the champions a guard of honour.

Image source, SNS

To argue against Celtic winning a 10th consecutive title, you need some evidence, but there is not much to go on, suggests BBC Scotland's Tom English.

You can read his analysis here.

Hamilton have had a much bigger turnaround than their hosts. Accies are not traditional big spenders, but they have managed to dip into their own biscuit tin to secure defender Hakeem Odoffi from Livingston and striker Tunde Owolabi from FC United of Manchester for undisclosed fees.

In: Hakeem Odoffi, defender (Livingston, undisclosed fee); Tunde Owolabi, striker (FC United of Manchester; undisclosed fee); Ross Callachan, midfielder (St Johnstone); Charlie Trafford, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Callum Smith, forward (Dunfermline Athletic).

Out: Alex Gogic, defender (Hibernian); Aaron McGowan, defender (Kilmarnock); Mickel Miller, forward (Rotherham United); George Oakley, forward (Pirin Blagoevgrad); Liam Scullion, midfielder (Fauldhouse United); Blair Alston, midfielder; Steve Davies, forward; Johnny Hunt, defender; Jack Breen, midfielder; Niyah Joseph, midfielder; Jay Blair, defender; Ciaran McAndrew, defender, midfielder; Charlie Reilly, midfielder.

Loan ended: Sam Woods, defender (Crystal Palace); Andy Dales, midfielder (Scunthorpe United); Luke Southwood, goalkeeper (Reading).

Premiership ins and outs

This week's arrival of Greece goalkeeper Vasilas Barkas for an undisclosed fee from AEK Athens is the only piece of business done by Celtic manager Neil Lennon so far other than the return of winger Mohamed Elyounoussi on loan from Southampton.

In: Vasilis Barkas, goalkeeper (AEK Athens, undisclosed).

Loan in: Mohamed Elyounoussi, midfielder (Southampton).

Out: Eboue Kouassi, midfielder (Genk, £1.35m); Craig Gordon, goalkeeper (Heart of Midlothian); Jonny Hayes, midfielder (Aberdeen); Jozo Simunovic, defender; Calvin Miller, defender.

Loan ended: Fraser Forster, goalkeeper (Southampton); Daniel Arzani, midfielder (Manchester City); Moritz Bauer, defender (Stoke City).

Loan out: Jack Hendry, defender (Oostende).

Premiership ins and outs

Image source, SNS

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice hands a start to right-back Hakeem Odoffi after the Englishman's move from Livingston this week.

Ross Callachan comes into midfield after his summer switch from St Johnstone.

Callum Smith, who arrived from Dunfermline Athletic, and former FC United of Manchester striker Tunde Owalabi find themselves on the bench as Rice goes with 18-year-old Andrew Winter to partner David Moyo up front.

On Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths' absence from the match-day squad, Celtic manager Lennon says: "He would’ve been in the squad, but he rolled his ankle yesterday. He's going to do a little bit of rehab over the next couple of days, but he should be okay for [next] weekend."

Another Celtic striker Lennon stated is looking for fitness is Vakoun Issouf Bayo, who is wanted by St Mirren on a loan deal. "I’m not aware of that interest, but it’s something we may look at," Lennon says.

"First things first, we need to get Vakoun fit and take it from there."

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Ali Crawford, remember him? It was the ginger midfielder's 15-yard strike four minutes after half-time that left Ronny Deila's side red-faced to secure the Lanarkshire outfit a first victory at Celtic Park in 76 years back in October 2014.

It was a result that gave the Premiership an unusual look after nine games, with Accies on top, one point ahead of Dundee United, and with Inverness Caledonian, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen between them and a Celtic side sitting an unfamiliar sixth.

Crawford beat a certain Virgil van Dijk to a low cross to drill a low drive into the far corner past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Since then, of course, the Dutch centre-half has gone on to greater things with Liverpool and his country, while his Scottish adversary, now 29, made only 16 appearances last season as Bolton Wanderers were relegated to League Two in England.

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The Premiership league winning flag will be unveiled at Celtic Park for the ninth consecutive season shortly, this time with no fans.

And, talking to BBC Sportsound, Celtic manager Neil Lennon states it's a "symbolic day for what we achieved last season".

"But as soon as that whistle goes, we are defending the title and that’s something we want to do as best as we can," he says.

"[We need to] try keep intensity levels as high as we can. It’s not a friendly or a pre-season game, three points are at stake. It may seem a little bit surreal, but we have to adapt."

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History suggests a win for Celtic over Accies has become as routine as sanitising your hands during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Glasgow side are on a run of 12 straight wins over today's visitors since a 1-1 draw in Hamilton back in February 2016.

Indeed, that is the only time Accies have avoided defeat in 17 meetings since a surprise 1-0 win at Celtic Park in October 2014.

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Think a fifth consecutive domestic home victory for Celtic is a foregone conclusion? Maybe you should think again.

Home manager Neil Lennon has been quick to point out this week that Brian Rice has drilled Accies into a mean defensive machine.

While Celtic eased to a 4-1 win in Hamilton the last time the two sides met in February, the Scottish champions relied on late strikes to earn victories by one-goal margins in their previous two match-ups.

That includes a 2-1 defeat for Hamilton in their last visit to Celtic Park in December. Indeed, Accies are unbeaten in three away games, including a win over Rangers at Ibrox in what turned out to be their last trip of last season.

Celtic are runaway favourites to secure another league title according to 70% of you who completed our Scottish Premiership predictor.

Around 35,000 submitted a table, with Rangers the choice of 26% of voters, and Aberdeen in third with 2%.

Hamilton were favourites of 36% of you for relegation ahead of St Mirren and Ross County.

Read more and vote here.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

Image source, BBC Sport

Celtic are along fairly familiar lines, but the headline news is that Scotland international Scott Bain starts in goal despite the arrival of Vasilas Barkas.

The Greece international is seen by manager Neil Lennon as his number one but only signed at the end of the week and is still short of match fitness.

Image source, SNS

Coverage of today's match from Celtic Park has just begun on BBC Radio Scotland.

Joining host Jane Lewis on Sportsound are Scotland defender Stephen O'Donnell and former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner.

Rob Maclean will be your commentator from Celtic Park.