Ross Tierney is relishing the connection with Bohemians team-mate Georgie Kelly as they look to complete the task of upsetting PAOK and advancing another step closer to the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League group stages.
After an impressive 2-1 win in the home leg of the third qualifying round tie at the Aviva Stadium last Tuesday, Keith Long's side will be in Thessaloniki on Thursday to face the Greek Superleague giants in the return fixture.
But key to Bohs journey in Europe has been the goals from the in-form Georgie Kelly.
Tierney, who chipped in with a goal of his own in the previous round against Dudelange, feels the rapport on and off the field with Kelly has been paying dividends.
"Me and Georgie we've sort of got a connection and a lot of chemistry. Even we spend a bit more time in the dressing room as well and always have a bit of craic with each other," he said of the striker.
"We needed to get to know each other's games. We had a lot of new lads come in which you can probably see from (results earlier in the season).
"Once we started to gel, we started to find out more about each other's games and found each other's strengths."
PAOK who pulled a goal back in the first leg will be primed to test Bohs' resolve on Thursday but Tierney is not concentrating on what the 2018-19 Greek champions solely have to offer.
"I don't know if there's more to come (from PAOK) but we don't worry about what they have in their team. We just concentrate on ourselves and we know if we play to our high standards, then we can give anyone a game," he said.
"We obviously got results away but that was different games, different teams but we're just looking forward to playing on Thursday again and give it our best shot."
And the benefit for the 20-year-old and his team-mates is the experience they are gathering on their European run.
"It's a step up in quality as well but we all just want to challenge ourselves against top quality players and we know that will stand to us in the time to come and the further we go in Europe as well," he said.
Tierney's progression has has seen him make an impression at international level for Republic of Ireland's Under-21, with the midfielder netting a late winner on his debut against Australia's U23s in a Marbella friendly in June.
With the carrot of underage international caps, it adds an extra incentive for the player to shine at club level.
"I'm loving my football at Bohs and then anything outside of that is a bonus," he said.
"But I wasn't in the '21s squad at the start, Dawson (Devoy) was and unfortunately got injured. But I was glad to get the call-up and I played five minutes and scored so I was happy.
"I know if I play well at Bohs, everything else will take care of itself."
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