Celtic have a massive week of football ahead of them. It's a week that in many ways will define what direction their season will take. Win all three matches against Aberdeen, Dundee and Rangers and they'll be expected to coast to another Scottish Premiership title without much trouble in the new year. Defeats in one or two of the matches and they'll have to contemplate the prospect of a real title race.
It all starts on Saturday with the visit of the Dons and although they have a massive derby against Rangers too look forward to on the 30th, this weekend's match is arguably more important.
The Hoops are probably more vulnerable now than they ever have been under Brendan Rodgers and although they have a great record against Aberdeen in the manager's time in Glasgow, Saturday is set to be a tough test.
Here are THREE reasons why this is Celtic's biggest match of the domestic season so far...
They've just destroyed a difficult to beat Hibs team
Celtic have a struggled in the odd match against numerous teams over the last 12 months, but against Hibernian it's becoming a bit of a habit with Neil Lennon's side showing on two occasions they can be a match for Brendan Rodgers' team. It's perhaps rather disconcerting then that Aberdeen are coming into Saturday's match with Celtic having just destroyed the Edinburgh side 4-1.
The Dons looked at their lethal best against Hibs last week, with former Hoops star Gary Mackay-Steven netting a hat-trick and generally terrifying what has been a fairly impressive defence this season.
Ever since Derek McInnes turned down Rangers they've been on a tear, winning three matches from three and capitalising on Celtic's defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle.
Catching Aberdeen on an off day often results in a routine win for Celtic, but catching them in this form, after a long month, will this one an especially difficult 90 minutes.
They'll likely be Celtic's closest challengers again
Despite Rangers getting their act together a bit this season results wise, and defeating the Dons twice in a week recently, Aberdeen are still showing that over long stretches they are still the second most consistent team in Scotland and Celtic's closest challengers.
A win against the Hoops on Saturday would put them to within just two points of the league leaders and with two home matches to follow while Celtic have to travel to Dens Park and face Rangers in a big derby, that gives them a decent chance of ending the year on level points or even ahead of the Scottish champions. A win of course puts them eight points clear, breathing room in the midst of a difficult set of fixtures.
If ever there was a time to show their dominance over Aberdeen, Saturday is it and the Hoops can't slip up or risk heading into the winter break with their tail between their legs.
Derek McInnes has a point to prove
Derek McInnes recently committed his future to the club after making the massive decision to turn down Rangers and in doing so he is re-iterating his desire that Aberdeen can win trophies under his watch. He's done an impressive job at the Dons but only has one solitary league cup to show for it and since Brendan Rodgers arrived in Scotland, they've looked even more unlikely to add to that.
McInnes' record against Rodgers is poor, in the seven matches between the two, Rodgers' side have come out on top in all seven, scoring 17 goals in the process and conceding just three. It's been so difficult for the Dons to even get close to Celtic.
The difference in resources is of course huge but if McInnes is truly going to deliver success at Pittodrie, he needs to find a way to win against Celtic, and after showing loyalty to Aberdeen, this would be the time to do it, making his side even more dangerous this weekend.