Free kick to Motherwell, the big men are up, but Celtic keeper Scott Bain comes through traffic to pluck the ball out of the air.

Both sides probing for an opening but no penalty box drama yet as Ryan Christie overhits a cross from out on the left.

And away we go at Fir Park.

A minute's silence before kick off.

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson is pleased with his side despite being short of defenders because of injury.

"In the last five games, we've only lost to Rangers, when we didn't turn up on the day, so we've won four out of five and we've got consistency in terms of results and our performances before that were decent as well, but there's an end product to what we're doing now," he tells BBC Scotland.

"I don't have a lot of choice about that in terms of injuries at the back, but up front we've got choices and the boys have done really well and I stick with it. We've got goals in the team and hopefully they can be a real threat.

"We are well aware that Celtic are a top team with top footballers, but we go with belief."

Stephen Craigan
Former Motherwell captain on BBC Sportsound

Celtic manager Neil Lennon tells BBC Sportsound that his team changes are simply to "freshen things up", adding that Odsonne Edouard is "not fully fit yet" after contracting Covid-19, while Shane Duffy "has played a lot of games".

"It's not a major issue, we've tailored the team all season," he adds.

"We're looking for a positive performance and the win is important because we have fallen behind a bit.

"We need to be disciplined in our work, we didn't connect properly on Thursday and that comes from discipline."

Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Motherwell made a slow start to the season but have been creeping back up the table, despite a couple of frustrating Covid cancellations, winning four of their last five league matches.

They go into this one in good spirits, having seen off Ross County and Livingston 4-0 and 2-0, respectively.

A point or better today would lift them up to sixth place.

Image source, SNS

Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Motherwell are winless in 15 league matches against Celtic (D3 L12), losing each of the past six meetings.

Celtic were at Fir Park twice last season, winning 4-0 and 5-2, while there was a 3-0 victory in Glasgow in the opening weeks of this term.

Prior to those last two visits, Motherwell managed three home draws on the bounce with the champions.

The Steelmen last celebrates a home win against today's opponents back in April 2013.

Celtic were number one seeds in the Europa League but the fates were unkind when it came to the group draw.

AC Milan, rejuvenated in Serie A, came to Glasgow and won, while Celtic managed a more than respectable point in Lille, but will be kicking themselves for throwing away a 2-0 lead.

Thursday looked like a must-win at home to Sparta Prague but the Czech side, without a point from their first two outings and missing several regulars, had no trouble on their way to a shock 4-1 win.

"I can't defend the players," said a furious Neil Lennon, who also vowed: "This is definitely a turning point - it won't happen again, that's for sure."

Image source, SNS

Let's have a closer look at Celtic's form.

With just one league defeat and two games in hand on Rangers, it hardly seems like a crisis.

However, Celtic are team used to winning and a run of one victory in their past six matches, three in the Europa League, represents an alarming slump.

Neil Lennon makes a change in defence and a change in attack following that poor display against Sparta Prague.

Shane Duffy and Odsonne Edouard drop to the bench, with Kristoffer Ajer back from injury and Albian Ajeti chosen to lead the line.

Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson sticks with a winning team, with Robbie Crawford returning to the bench after sitting out the 2-0 victory against parent club Livingston.

Trevor Carson, Sherwin Seedorf, Bevis Mugabi, Rickie Lamie, Charles Dunne, Jake Carrol and Liam Donnelly are still missing with injuries.

Diego Laxalt is looking like a studious ninja warrior as he wraps up against the cold at Fir Park.

The on-loan Celtic full-back has mastered the mask and specs combo, with no fogging in sight.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell: Chapman, O'Donnell, Gallagher, McGinley, Maguire, Campbell, O'Hara, Polworth, Cole, Lang, Watt.

Substitutes: Archer, Devine, Grimshaw, Johnston, Cornelius, Crawford, Hastie, White, Long.

Celtic: Bain, Frimpong, Ajer, Bitton, Laxalt, Brown, McGregor, Christie, Rogic, Elyounoussi, Ajeti.

Substitutes: Barkas, Taylor, Duffy, Griffiths, Klimala, Turnbull, Ntcham, Edouard, Elhamed.

Celtic are playing catch-up in the Premiership after something of a wobble in recent weeks.

The champions are nine points behind Rangers, who are at home to Hamilton Academical later on.

Neil Lennon's men are at Fir Park for a high noon showdown with Motherwell and will want to get Thursday's horror show against Sparta Prague out of their system pronto.

Stay with us as the latest instalment of the title race unfolds...