Stjarnan v Shamrock Rovers, 8.15pm
Stephen Bradley is braced for a physical, unforgiving Icelandic battle when he takes his Shamrock Rovers troops to Stjarnan tonight for the first leg of their Europa League first-round qualifier.
The Hoops go to the tight, 1,000-capacity Samsungvöllur Stadium to face a team who fell at the final hurdle last year, losing 9-0 on aggregate to Inter Milan in the play-off round for the group stages.
Rovers broke new ground for Irish clubs when they joined the big boys back in 2011. Now Bradley is hoping to make the lucrative group stages again.
"Having watched Stjarnan on Saturday, they're an attacking threat from set plays and open play so we'll have to defend much better than that to keep a clean sheet," he said.
"They're a decent side, they're very strong from set plays, long throw-ins and corners and they're a big, physical team. So we have to make sure we're switched on from set-plays and not give away anything silly.
"In terms of their weaknesses, I feel that if we play to our attacking strengths we can definitely get at them.
"I believe if we play to our ability we can definitely give them a game and keep the tie alive going back to Tallaght which would be massive because we know we'll get a big crowd and we've been playing well at home this year."
Team news
Luke Byrne and Sean Boyd clashed when challenging for a header with the former damaging ligaments in an awkward fall, but he's declared he will play through the pain. Trevor Clarke and Ronan Finn suffered knocks in the win against Drogheda United but have recovered. Darren Meenan has not travelled due to illness.
FC Midtjylland v Derry City, MCH Arena, 7pm
Kenny Shiels wants to set up a Sligo blockbuster by holding a Rafael van der Vaart-led FC Midtjylland in Denmark tonight.
Derry City head for their first European tie in three years with a squad of just 15 players.
Midtjylland reached the play-off round for the Europa League group stages last year and Shiels is expecting a difficult night, but he urged his men to dig deep and set up a humdinger at the Showgrounds, their temporary home for European games due to the redevelopment of the Brandywell.
"They're formidable," Shiels told BBC Sport.
"The priority is to compete and give a good account of ourselves and hopefully bring back a result so that we can come back (with a chance of qualifying)."
"It will be great to come back and be right inside the tie and to come back to Sligo and fill the stadium. It would be fantastic."
Van der Vaart, formerly of Real Madrid and Spurs, joined the Danes last summer from Real Betis.
He lends class to the hosts, who will be ready to fire on all cylinders.
"They (Midtjylland) are primed, they've just finished their season and their fitness levels are high," Shiels added.
"We've got a few players missing and we can't go and sign cover for Europe because our window starts in July, which is a massive disadvantage.
"It's all of these little obstacles that you have to try and contest."
Team news
Barry McNamee and Conor McDermott are both injured, for their first European tie since 2014, which has left Shiels with a squad of just 15 players to choose from.
Levadia Tallinn v Cork City, Pärnu, 4.30pm
Cork City are absolutely flying domestically, but boss John Caulfield is taking nothing for granted as they enter the choppy waters of Europa League qualification.
The Leesiders travel to Levadia Tallinn for the first leg of their first-round qualifier on the back of two wins since returning from the mid-season break: a 4-1 home triumph over Limerick and a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Derry City last week.
They're 15 points clear at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division with a game in hand and look home and hosed for the title.
Levadia come into the game on the back of a 3-0 cup win over Nõmme United, while their last league fixture was a 1-1 draw away to Sillamäe Kalev.
They are something of an unknown quantity, but Caulfield has been doing his homework.
"Obviously, we have done our research on Levadia," he said.
"They are second in the table and they have four or five very strong players. Morelli, the Brazilian on loan from Middlesbrough, is their playmaker.
"Their captain, the centre forward Hunt, is an Estonian international and gets a lot of goals for them. They are quick up front, very direct and they get the ball into the box.
"We have looked at them, they are very good going forward and create lots of chances. In my opinion, they look like a team that would be in the top four in our own league, and the intensity of the top games in the league here is similar to our own."
Team news
Alan Bennett has returned to light training and will be assessed closer to kick-off, while Steven Beattie is available again after injury. Johnny Dunleavy is the only confirmed absentee.
