VENUE
Shamrock Rovers v Flora Tallinn, 7.45pm, Tallaght Stadium
An attendance of 3,500 has been permitted to attend in Tallaght. Tickets are sold out.
It will be the largest number of spectators at the venue since the pandemic began. No away supporters are permitted so it will be a very loud home support.
HOW TO WATCH
The match will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Coverage begins at 7.30pm.
WEATHER
A warm evening in Tallaght as Dublin enjoys some more favourable weather than recent weeks. The pitch and conditions will be ideal for a game.
HOW IS THE TIE POISED?
Flora Tallinn hold a two-goal advantage from the first leg. The Hoops produced a sloppy performance to concede four goals on the night in the opening game. Manager Stephen Bradley bemoaned the fact his side had produced one of their worst displays in the last two years on a night they needed their watertight defence.
The Hoops have relied on some late goals this season. Despite their comfortable lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table, it's only in the last six weeks have we seen them move up a gear.
Lee Grace was absent for the first leg and will miss this game as well. His absence was a blow but there was many below-par displays.
Flora took their chances well and could have had more on what was a strange night in Tallinn.
It is a case that perhaps some of the below-par displays by Bradley’s men were not punished in the league and in European competition, it’s much more likely to happen.
With away goals no more, it means the Premier Division leaders must win the game by three goals to win in 90 minutes, or two to take it to extra-time.
THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL
The new European club pyramid gives Champions League sides more than one chance to go through to a group stage.
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 close to €3m. But defeat at this stage would bring their European campaign to an end.
Flora are looking to become the first Estonian team to reach a group stage. The Conference League will have six matches, with some big teams, and a chance to progress.
SCALES GOODBYE
The match looks set to be the final one in a Hoops shirt for Liam Scales ahead of a move to Celtic.
The defender has been outstanding this season, operating as a left-wing back, as well as his usual centre-half position.
The former UCD man and Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has undoubted quality and the move to Celtic is well-deserved.
He had a starring role in their last round against Teuta and got one of the two goals scored in Tallinn by the visitors.
Richie Towell is back in the League of Ireland. As the RTÉ cameras return to a League of Ireland venue for the first time since the opening third of the season, he is also one to watch.
CAN THEY DO IT?
Yes, in short. With a better than 1.5 goal average in the league, they are capable certainly. Bradley’s approach often means victories are narrow and reliant on a solid defence, which made last Thursday’s result all the more surprising.
Bradley said that the team are focusing on getting a result first and foremost rather than on permutations.
"We've just got to focus on what we do, don't worry about how many goals or what we need to do or what time," he said.
"Just focus on our jobs, focus on getting back to our levels and we know if we do that, we can cause this team or any team problems. So that's the main focus."
The big danger is conceding a goal. The approach will be key. The performance against Slovan Bratislava, a side many would consider better than Flora Tallinn, showed the Hoops are capable of cancelling out a two-goal lead. After the first leg of the Champions League in Bratislava, the Hoops looked to be a busted flush until they dominated the reverse fixture in Dublin.
A goal by Vladamir Weiss saved Slovan and gave Shamrock Rovers a valuable lesson of how cruel European nights can be.
There is no room for error on Thursday evening.
