Former Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers believes Shamrock Rovers should look to make the most of the lack of pressure when they take on Ferencvaros in Budapest on Thursday.
The Hoops' reward for beating KF Shkupi over two legs in the Europa League third qualifying round is a play-off tie against Hungary's most successful club, with both legs live on RTÉ.
While the next phase is at stake in that more lucrative competition, the SSE Airtricity League champions go into the first leg knowing that they are at the very least assured of group stage European football in the Europa Conference League regardless of the result against a Ferencvaros side who played in the Champions League proper two years ago and lost on aggregate to Qarabag in the qualifiers.
The comfort of knowing that European football will be played at Tallaght Stadium right into the winter will allow Stephen Bradley's side to play with no fear according to Rogers, who featured for Dundalk during their Europa League group stage campaigns in both 2016-17 and 2020-21.
"It absolutely is a free hit no matter what way you dress it up," he told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
"Ferencvaros are obviously a very good side. Qarabag are a team I would have played against, [so] beating them over the two legs and [shows they] have continued their progress.
"It's a difficult tie, there's no doubt about, it but at this stage of the competition you're not going to get anybody more attractive to beat and I think for Shamrock Rovers, it's well within their capabilities.
"Over two legs, with the pressure off, with group stages in the bag – go out there and perform.
"The players that they have in their ranks, like Graham Burke and Jack Byrne, who we've yet to see the best of because of injury this year, and the quality that they have throughout the squad (will help them).
"League of Ireland players always raise their game when it comes to European football and I think it's a good barometer and we all want to see our clubs in group stages because it shines a good light on our league.
"For Shamrock Rovers to go and beat Ferencvaros over two legs would be a really good achievement. You need to beat a really good side to get into the Europa League group stages and I think this is a tie that Stephen Bradley and Shamrock Rovers will look at as a really good opportunity for them."
Rogers cited the need to be "clinical" in front of goal, pointing to how David McMillan helped Dundalk with his incisiveness during the 2016-17 run.
"With the pressure off of having group stages in the bag, I think they can really go out there and let loose. It's not about taking the shackles off. You still have to be defensively solid and take your opportunities. European football comes down to that."
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