Tommy Burns watched Scotland lose in Lithuania

For many clubs, a potential trip to either the Faroe Islands or Lithuania would be one into the unknown.

But Celtic have plenty of experience of both to call upon - on top of their own recently re-established European pedigree.

McLeod said: "You have got to say it is a good draw for Celtic."

The Uefa Cup finalists will play either HB Torshavn of the Faroes or Lithuanian champions Kaunas.

They showed with victories against the likes of Blackburn, Liverpool and Boavista that they fear no-one Murdo McLeod

"The environment is not going to be as good as you would get at a top European club," admitted McLeod, who was in Lithuania commentating for the BBC on Scotland's Euro 2004 qualifier.

"But the Lithuanians have a fair stadium that presents few hardships and they will also know what to expect in the Faroes as Scotland played there too."

Kaunas will start their first qualifying round tie as favourites, but the Scots swept aside another Lithuanian outfit, Suduva, 8-1 at Celtic Park in last season's Uefa Cup before a team of reserves added a 2-0 win in the return tie.

Scottish sides have at times been caught out by lack of sharpness early in European competitions.

Celtic face minnows

But McLeod said: "Celtic know the standard they will be up against and this tie should simply give them more match practice early in the season.

"With the amount of pre-season games Celtic have, they will be ready.

"There was a time when Celtic would have been confident of winning at Parkhead but apprehensive travelling, but they showed with victories against the likes of Blackburn, Liverpool and Boavista that they fear no-one."

Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon said: "We did play Lithuanian opposition last year and coped pretty well.

"The important thing is to treat every side with respect and we will certainly do that."

Glasgow rivals Rangers beat Kaunas 4-1 at Ibrox before a goal-less draw in Lithuania at the same stage three years ago.

Former Celtic manager Tommy Burns, now the club's youth boss, has experience of both Lithuania and the Faroes in his other role as Scotland assistant.

Celtic have beaten the likes of Liverpool away from home

Scotland lost 1-0 to the Lithuanians in Kaunas, while they struggled to a 2-2 draw in the Faroes, although the new stadium at Torshavn was not used for that game.

If Celtic play Torshavn, they will be coming up against a team still very much involved in league action in their own country.

They won their place in the qualifying round of this year's Champions League by beating nearest rivals, KI Klaksvik, to the league title in last season's competition.

The new campaign kicked off on 16 May and is set to run until the beginning of October and Celtic's potential rivals have already got off to a good start - they have not lost a game and sit at the top of the table on goal difference.

Rangers are the last Scottish club to face a side from the Faroes, defeating GI Gotu 11-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round of the competition in 1997.

Kaunas are also still involved in league competition, sitting second top, two points behind league-leaders Ekranas after 10 games.