Shamrock Rovers may be heavy underdogs against Rapid Vienna on Thursday but their UEFA Conference League exploits to date should allow them to go to the Austrian capital with a sense of freedom, according to former Hoops midfielder Paul Corry.
The 2-1 victory over The New Saints at Tallaght Stadium before the international break means that Stephen Bradley's side have earned seven points from a possible nine in the league phase of Europe's third tier club competition which should virtually assure them of at least a historic progression to the ensuing play-off round with three games remaining - including the 19 December trip to face Chelsea.
Rapid Vienna have a 100% record from their three games to date and are second in the Austrian Bundesliga despite a scoreless draw against WSG Tirol at the weekend.
While the 32-time Austrian champions go into Thursday's game at Allianz Stadion as clear favourites, from a Rovers point of view the pressure will be off the 2024 League of Ireland runners-up given that their continental objectives have gone to plan with the upcoming home game against Bosnia's FK Borac Banja Luka on 12 December viewed as an opportunity to try and secure at least another point.
"They finished the season very strongly both domestically and with their results in the Conference League but you would imagine that (Rapid Vienna) is going to be a significant step up on the games that they've played against particularly Larne and TNS - and I would say even a step up on APOEL as a team to play against," Corry said on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
"And obviously when you go on the road in Europe, it becomes that little bit more difficult.
"But they've played a number of teams of this sort of mould over the last couple of seasons when they've played in Europe and they know exactly what is expected of them when they go and play against a team like Rapid Vienna.
"They're not going to have the same sort of ownership of possession that they might do when they play a TNS or a Larne and it's more about being disciplined, being structured within your shape and then hope when you do regain possession, that maybe you can transition and go quickly and use the likes of a Neil Farrugia who can get you up the pitch or a Johnny Kenny who can stretch in behind and carry a bit of a threat from that perspective."
With the wins over Larne and TNS, as well as the draw against APOEL, lifting the pressure to get points, Corry added that Shamrock Rovers can express themselves where possible in Vienna.
"They'll be very realistic about their opportunities because Rapid Vienna are such a good side but they will also understand that they can have confidence in the fact that they can carry a threat at the top end of the pitch," he said.
"And obviously the results that they've had already in this competition puts them in an unbelievable position to try and qualify not only out of the league phase but maybe as one of the automatic qualifiers.
"But their next two away games are very, very difficult - Rapid Vienna and Chelsea - and they obviously have that game against Borac at home on 12 December that maybe presents their best opportunity of picking up points again.
"But it's brilliant to have them involved in the competition. It's brilliant that we're not only talking about them being involved but actually competing and potentially qualifying out of the league phase.
"So Stephen Bradley will be very understanding of the challenge that exists on Thursday evening but I think they will go into this with a bit of confidence that they can at least pose a bit of a threat."
Watch Liverpool v Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday from 7.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Digital highlights of games available from Thursday morning.
Watch Wales v Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2025 play-offs on Friday from 6.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on 2fm's Game On
