CELTIC arrived in Belfast last night for their showdown with Linfield as concerns remained over how authorities would deal with the potential of the Scottish club's supporters turning up at Windsor Park for the game.
The two sides meet in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying round this evening with a 5pm kick-off.
Around 10,500 fans are expected to take their seats at Windsor Park, but Celtic supporters have been left unable to officially access any tickets, after the Glasgow club turned down its allocation due to security concerns.
As a row brewed over Belfast City Council's use of public money for a 'fanzone' for Celtic supporters at a west Belfast pub, it remained unclear what measures the PSNI and Linfield will take if Celtic fans make it into the stadium.
There has been speculation that Celtic supporters who are identified within the stadium will be subject to a contingency plan whereby they are hemmed into a 'safe zone', but Linfield chairman Roy McGivern refused to be drawn on details in interviews earlier this week.
Mr McGivern said that any Celtic fans who "turn up and are identified will not be admitted to the ground" but also admitted that he would be "amazed" if there were no Hoops supporters at the game.
Celtic fans gathered at the Culloden Hotel in Holywood last night to welcome manager Brendan Rodgers and his squad to the north.
During a press conference after his arrival, Mr Rodgers, from Carnlough in Co Antrim, spoke of his disappointment at the lack of "assurances" for the safety of Celtic supporters, which he said was "sad" in "the new Northern Ireland".
Mr Rodgers said: "This is a game that the football club haven't been able to have assurances for their safety....which is sad for me. That is a problem for me. Celtic as a football club have to protect their supporters."
The gift that will be presented to @celticfc for tomorrow's 1st ever game between our two clubs has been commissioned, by Belfast Crystal. pic.twitter.com/cpmt6W3b4q
— Linfield_FC (@Linfield_FC) July 13, 2017
Former Mayor of Belfast, the DUP councillor and Linfield fan Brian Kingston, told the BBC: "I think we're maturing as a society and I think we can handle those rivalries.
"I would have liked to have seen arrangements made where Celtic fans could have attended."
On Wednesday, the PSNI were embroiled in a spat with Celtic over the Scottish club's decision not to take up its ticket allocation.
In a tweet, police said that "contrary to some reports" the decision to have no away fans in the stadium was "a decision taken solely by the football club and was not made by PSNI."
Celtic tweeted: "This is clearly not our understanding of the situation and we stand by our statement of 23rd June."
Meanwhile, Celtic has confirmed that all tickets for the second leg clash in Glasgow are now sold out.
The club also said that the game, due to take place on Wednesday, will be shown live to subscribers of Celtic TV.
