VENUE
Flora Tallinn v Shamrock Rovers, 5pm, A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn
The stadium where Ireland all but sealed a place at Euro 2012 and where the Hoops enjoyed a victory over Flora in the Champions League first round thanks to a 1-0 aggregate win.
The stadium has a capacity of over 14,000. Hoops supporters are not permitted to attend.
HOW TO WATCH
The first leg is live on Virgin Media 2 and the second leg will be broadcast on RTÉ2 next week.
WEATHER
Rain is forecast in Tallinn with the temperature around 17 degrees. It should lead to a nice slick surface. There will also be a strong breeze. The conditions will be much more recognisable compared to the heat in Slovakia and Albania in earlier European games.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
This is what it's all about for Irish teams. In a league with little prize money and limited exposure, group stage football brings rewards that can transform a football club.
Shamrock Rovers have already secured €1.3m for their exploits so far and victory in this tie would bring that total to close to €3m. It is game-changing money for a club which has successfully invested in its academy and infrastructure and would ramp up their operations even further.
The Tallaght side were the first Irish outfit to come through a qualification process to reach the Europa League proper in 2011. At the time, many felt it would lead to total dominance, due to the financial windfall.
That didn't materialise and indeed Dundalk have achieved the feat twice in recent years. Needless to say, their success has led to stable foundations.
But for the Hoops, with the experience of coming through this process, this really could put them further ahead of the pack in Ireland.
The prospect of six televised group games against some potentially big names is also on offer, and the new Conference League format would mean this time it would be easier to pick up results in the the group stages. Dundalk memorably earned four points in 2016 and there are hundreds of thousands of euro on offer if results can be claimed.
A win here will also boost the club's coefficient, making their job easier in European competitions in years to come.
As has been witnessed this year, the day of the moral victory is long gone in the League of Ireland. The landscape just doesn't allow for it.
IS THERE A FAVOURITE?
Again, the early days of the Conference are encouraging in how well the teams are matched. Stephen Bradley's side may be marginal favourites against their Estonian opposition, but it really can go either way.
Flora took Omonia Nicosia all the way to penalties in the last round in the Europa League and last year they also reached the play-off round after overcoming Lithuanian, Icelandic and Maltese opposition, before Dinamo Zagreb claimed a 3-1 win.
Legia Warsaw, who need no introduction to League of Ireland fans, beat Flora 3-1 over two legs in the Champions League this year.
Flora are bidding to become the first Estonian side to reach the group stage of a European competition. They have many internationals and will see this tie as a breakthrough opportunity.
Dundalk played Levadia Tallinn earlier this season in Europe and emerged victorious as they edged a seven-goal tie.
However, this is champion v champion in the respective leagues and will tell a greater story in how the leagues shape up against each other.
MOMENTUM WITH BRADLEY'S MEN
Since the defeat in Bratislava, the Hoops have finally hit their stride after some indifferent performances this season.
The home leg with Slovan saw a very unfortunate exit for the Irish champions after Vladamir Weiss rescued the Slovakians with a late goal.
As well as comfortably dealing with Teuta of Albania, with two clean sheets, the leaders have consolidated their position in the league with a string of wins.
This week's game with Bohemians has been postponed to allow them to rest for the second leg. Some key players have found form, with Rory Gaffney and Aaron Greene scoring goals, and the midfield has been boosted by Richie Towell quickly readjusting to the league.
Liam Scales looks Celtic bound but will play in these ties. All in all, they are in a great position to find the performances this season.
EUROPEAN MATCHES NOW HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK
In case you haven't noticed, away goals are no longer applicable in Europe so tactics have changed. Shamrock Rovers will be keen to return to Dublin with a scoreline that allows them to kick on.
There is no doubt they have the quality to score and their finishing in Albania through Gaffney ended that tie in a clinical manner.
It is possible they could repeat those goalscoring exploits. In what has been a year of genuine progression for the league, Thursday evening's tie is finely poised and could bring even further positivity around the game.
Follow Flora Tallinn v Shamrock Rovers via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. The second leg is live on RTÉ2 on Thursday 26 August.
