Keeping Jack Byrne and Graham Burke fit and firing will give Shamrock Rovers the best chance of making a mark in the Europa Conference League group stages according to Paul Corry.
The Hoops duo missed chunks of the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers. But with Stephen Bradley's side now facing into a group stage campaign in the third tier competition, starting with Djurgadens' visit to Tallaght Stadium tonight, ex-UCD, Sheffield and Shamrock Rovers midfield Corry believes that, coupled with leaning on their home games, they will need two of their creative outlets to stay fit over the coming months.
"What you do hope is that they keep those key players fit," he told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
"If you think about the European campaign and when they have looked good, Graham Burke came off the bench on one occasion and changed the game. Jack Byrne came off the bench and changed the game.
"Neither of those players have really been fully fit for a consistent period of time over the last six months, so if they could get both of those players fit, ready and back somewhat near their best, it gives them a massive chance in these European games.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them rested within the league and maybe just get their feet up and rely on those players who don't play in those European games to get the job done."
Rovers will face a Djurgardens side who are in flying form in the Swedish league whereas the SSE Airtricity League leaders come into the game on the back of a Dublin derby defeat to Bohemians.
"I think it will be really interesting to see what XI Stephen Bradley does go with," Corry said.
"Jack Byrne was extremely good when he came off the bench in that game against Ferencvaros and you could see what he brought to the side.
"But I was also at the game against Bohs last Friday night in Dalymount and Jack by his own standards was probably a little below par and maybe he suits playing those European games where it's a little more open and the opposition will allow you to have a bit more of the ball.
"If he can replicate the form he showed in Tallaght last Thursday night, just his ability to create chances and open teams up and even set-piece delivery, he brings so much more to that Shamrock Rovers team.
"If you can get him firing and combine that with the platform that the rest of the team have given Shamrock Rovers, they're certainly going to be in with a chance come Thursday night."
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