Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has backed his side to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League ahead of their playoff against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

The Bhoys have not reached the Champions League proper for three years heading in to Wednesday's first leg against the Israeli champions.

Rodgers does not expect it to be an easy passage into the group stages, but believes that his players have what it takes to deal with any tests that will come their way over the two legs.

"The last couple of seasons have gone by and the players learn from those experiences. But it's also a new team with new ideas - a new identity - and we've shown over this early part of the season an ability to deal with pressure. We've talked about that. This is a team that went to Hearts on the back of a really difficult qualifier in midweek but came through it," he told reporters.

"There are various checkpoints in games where you are asked questions under pressure and so far I've been really pleased with how the players have coped. This will be the same. We're very calm but we understand that over the course of the two games there will be moments where we have to cope with it.

"But looking at how the boys have been working, I see no reason why we can't. We're playing the champions of another country but we're ready to accept the challenge. Hopefully the players have positive experiences they can take in having learned from the past."

Celtic have been knocked out at this stage of qualification by Maribor and Malmo in the past two seasons.