Sligo Rovers will look to overturn a 3-1 deficit as they take on Spartak Trnava in the Europa League second round qualifying second leg at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.00pm.
Manager Ian Baraclough has a full squad to choose from as Alan Keane has overcome a calf injury and there are no other injury concerns.
But goals are needed if the Airticity League leaders are to progress and leading goalscorer Danny North admitted that it’s an uphill task for the Bit O’ Red.
North said: “I don’t think we need to attack from the start. As long as we don’t concede early, that is important.
“As the game goes on that is when we will have to start worrying if we don't score, but we just need to go out and play our own game and hopefully the goals will come.
“It is always an experience playing in these games. It is where you want to be, that sort of standard and it is good experience for all the lads. I enjoy it and hopefully we can progress to another round.”
Spartak romped to a 3-0 half-time lead in last Thursday night’s first leg but it was not a fair reflection on the opening 45 minutes, and North is convinced that Sligo are more than able to compete at this level.
North said: “It was easier than I thought to be honest. I expected them to have a lot more of the ball than they did and I thought we gave a very good account of ourselves.
“Obviously three silly goals were given away from our own doing and you can’t afford to do it at that level or even in the Premier Division. We were disappointed but Peersy (Gavin Peers) got the away goal which is vital. It gives us a chance for Thursday.”
And while North is the leading goalscorer, there are plenty of other players chipping in with valuable goals. Among them is North’s strike partner Mark Quigley, who scored two goals on Sunday to rescue a point coming from 2-0 down to draw with Cork City.
Speaking about Quigley’s recent impact, North said: “Everyone wants to play. You’re going to be disappointed if you’re not involved. You see Quigs in the last two league games up in Derry where we got the winner and against Cork where he rescued a point.
“That is what he is about. You saw it against Cork, he took a free-kick and it was a bit of class and then the penalty the goalkeeper had no chance. That is Quigs all over. “
It has been a hectic schedule for the Irish teams competing in Europe (tonight’s game is Sligo’s third game in eight days), but North is not looking for excuses and is convinced that fitness will not be an issue tonight.
He added: “I’m feeling fine to be honest. You see people blaming a European hangover, but I don’t that was there in our game with Cork on Sunday with the way we came out of the traps.
“It is the best we played since I’ve been here and although their early goal killed it a bit, even then we dominated and had chances to win it. I don’t think you can look at games coming thick and fast.
“We have fit enough lads. We’ve got a good squad so there is no reason for that to be an excuse. “
