CELTIC manager Tommy Burns will ask his players to overcome 20 years of failure on German soil tonight and give the club a European lifeline.

The Parkhead side have not scored in five trips to Germany since their first outing in 1976 but Burns needs at least two goals in the Volspark Stadium if his team are to preserve their UEFA Cup interest.

Celtic trail SV Hamburg in the first round tie 2-0 after a bitter experience in Glasgow a fortnight ago in the first leg.

But Burns has seen a glimmer of hope, both in Hamburg's form and that of his own side. While Celtic were winning 5-1 against Dunfermline at the weekend, the Bundesliga team were losing 3-1 at Bochum, their third defeat in four games.

Hamburg coach Felix Magath has a dressing room revolt on his hands, with record signing Jens Dowe told he will never play for the club again following a bust up with the coach at Parkhead.

Burns insists the tie is not yet dead and said: "We have 90 minutes to score two goals and take it into extra time. But Hamburg's form has to give us heart.

"There are definitely going to be goals in this game. Hamburg are a decent side but I still feel there is a way through for us if we can upset them."

Celtic will give a morning fitness test to both Alan Stubbs, their £3.5 million signing from Bolton who missed the first game with damaged ankle ligaments and has not played since, and Andreas Thom, who is fighting a hamstring problem. Burns is optimistic of Stubbs' inclusion, but Thom has been given only an 80 per cent chance of playing.