John Caulfield is expecting a passionate affair when his Cork City team and Linfield clash in the Europa League first qualifying round in Belfast, but believes his side can prevail if they show their true potential.
The all-Ireland clash (7.45pm, Windsor Park) will generate interest on both sides of the border and seeded Linfield will have home advantage in tomorrow night’s first-leg before he return fixture the following week in Turner's Cross.
City come into the match on the back of a 0-0 draw with Shamrock Rovers, ending their run of eight successive wins, but will have to make do without the services of John Dunleavy and John Kavanagh, while there will be late fitness tests for Kenny Browne, Michael McSweeney, Karl Sheppard and Alan Bennett.
Linfield won the only previous match between the two sides, a 1-0 victory in the 2007 Setanta Cup semi-final, and Caulfield is under no illusions of the challenge they will pose.
“Linfield are probably the biggest club north or south. They have been by far the biggest club in the north and have won double the amount of trophies of their nearest rivals,” he told the club website.
“It will probably be really like a League of Ireland match; they have strengthened in the off-season. We know what we have to do and, for us, it is about making sure we can give a good performance.
“The lads have to prepare well; Linfield are seeded and they have been in Europe almost every year in their history, so they will expect to go through.
“If we give a strong performance, I think we will win, but it’s played over two legs and I think it will go right to the wire.”
Caulfield has urged discipline from his players in what he expects to be a red-hot atmosphere in Belfast.
“For us, it is about keeping cool heads, showing discipline and going out and giving the kind of performance that we have given a lot this year.”
Linfield meanwhile have urged their fans to adhere to Uefa regulations ahead of the tie.
Two years ago the club was fined €15,000 for breaching regulations which prohibit standing during a Europa League tie, while earlier that season, the south Belfast club was fined £1,200 by the IFA over the singing of sectarian songs by a section of the club's supporters during a league game at Coleraine in March.
“Linfield Football Club would like to remind supporters that ground regulations and all other instructions must be strictly adhered to in UEFA competitions and that any breach of these regulations will lead to serious financial penalties for the club,” a club statement read.
“This club continues to be crippled by fines sustained on the domestic scene - with further fines incurred due to scourge of offensive and unwelcome chanting at both the Irish cup semi-final and the Irish Cup final - on both occasions due to the actions of a tiny and unwanted minority.”
