Keith Treacy believes Shelbourne's tactical approach may make them the most likely of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division sides to ruffle a few feathers in Europe later this summer.
Derry City, St Patrick's Athletic and Shels discovered their Europa Conference League qualifying round fates after last week's draw, while Shamrock Rovers also did likewise in the Champions League.
For the second year in a row, Rovers have been drawn against Iceland's champions - Vikingur Reykjavík this time rather than Breidablik who foiled them last year - and if they advance to the second round of the Champions League, it's Czechia's Sparta Prague who will provide a daunting hurdle.
Derry City will meet FC Copenhagen who took on Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 earlier this year if they overcome Gibraltar's Bruno's Magpies in the Conference League first round.
St Patrick's Athletic don't enter the competition until the second round and their opposition will be Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz who also play in the Swiss league system.
Premier Division leaders Shelbourne, meanwhile, will mark their return to the European stage for the first time in almost 20 years against another side from Gibraltar in the shape of St Joseph's in mid-July.
And if Damien Duff's side get through that, they face two tough legs against Swiss side FC Zurich.
But it's the Dublin club's well-drilled tactical approach under their high-profile manager that could serve them well when the European qualifiers kick off next month, according to Treacy who feels they will thrive in contrast to other Irish sides who may try to play European opponents at their own more technical and expansive game.
"In particular when I think of Shamrock Rovers when they go into Europe, they try and play the exact same way they do in the League of Ireland, that's brilliant and I understand the merits of it from a coaching and managers' point-of-view," the former Republic of Ireland, Blackburn and St Patrick's Athletic winger told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
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"But I think when you go into the elite stage, the Champions League qualifying, the Europa, whatever stage it is, I think (Irish sides) need to mix it up a little bit in there because we're chasing the rest of Europe in this pretty style of football and I think Shamrock Rovers (last year) have proven we're not quite at the top table there.
"So if we can mix it up, if we can harass teams, get after them, make them feel uncomfortable, I think you can win a couple of games in Europe.
"I think Shelbourne are best placed. I know they have a difficult game against St Joseph's but I think they're best placed because - it sounds like I'm having a pop at Shels but it's far from it, I mean this in a complimentary way - they'll get down and dirty with teams in Europe.
"Teams will come to Tolka, they'll be looking around and thinking, 'My god, what's this? I thought we were in Europe', and I think Shelbourne and Damien Duff will put teams on the back foot.
"If they have the same energy that they have in the league, if they bring that into Europe, that fearlessness, I think Shelbourne could win a couple of games in Europe and it's just because of the styles of play. I think they'll go in and be a cat among the pigeons and it'll just upset everybody, whereas Rovers will go in there and try and do it in a nice way and probably get turned over."
Former Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham also shared his reaction to the European draws during RTÉ's live Euro 2024 coverage:
The main issue for Shamrock Rovers going into the Vikingur tie however will be to arrest their inconsistent form from before the mid-season break, according to ex-Hoops, UCD and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Paul Corry, who was also speaking on this week's podcast.
"If they are to progress past any round in Europe, they're going to have to be a hell of a lot better than they've been in the league," he said.
"They've given away way too many goals and sloppy goals that we probably haven't seen them give away in previous campaigns gone by and probably haven't shown the same sort of spark or creativity when going forward.
"Now some of that is down to personnel being out - the likes of Rory Gaffney, Dylan Watts, Gary O'Neill - they've certainly been hampered by injury.
"But irrespective of what 11 goes out and plays in the league and in Europe, they need to find a couple of levels above what they've produced in the first half of the season."
Watch every game from Euro 2024 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player as well as highlights and goals as they happen on RTÉ Sport digital platforms.
