Shelbourne should feel they have every chance of being able to take something from their UEFA Conference League opener against BK Hacken on Thursday, according to Alan Cawley.
The Drumcondra-based club will be making history, with the match, which will be at Tallaght Stadium rather than their Tolka Park home due to UEFA stadium guidelines, being their first ever foray into the league phase or group stage of European competition. Shels also become just the third League of Ireland club to feature at such a level after Shamrock Rovers - the Hoops are also in the Conference League for a second year in a row this season - and Dundalk over the past 15 years.
While the likes of Crystal Palace will be daunting opposition for Shels later in the league phase, BK Hacken have endured a wobble in the Swedish league in recent times.
The club from the Gothenburg area may have got back to winning ways on Saturday by beating Norrkopping 2-0 in the Allsvenskan, but Jens Gustafsson's side had lost six, drawn two and won one of their previous nine league games.
On the other hand, they did get past Anderlecht in the Europa League qualifiers and thrashed Romania's CFR Cluj over two legs in the Conference League play-off.
But the fact that Gustafsson told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, after a recent 4-0 humbling at Hammarby, that his side seemed to unravel when dealing with in-game setbacks should be music to Shelbourne and manager Joey O'Brien's ears.
"When the draw was made you would have been earmarking the games where you feel they are kind of winnable, the games that you'd feel we could pick up points and the games that are obviously going to be really tough - hence the likes of a Crystal Palace," former Shelbourne midfielder Cawley said on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast as he and ex-Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers man Richie Towell previewed the two ties involving LOI teams in Europe - the Hoops also facing Sparta Prague on Thursday.
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"So I think this is one that Shelbourne would have earmarked; at home, on the opening night, a huge crowd, all that comes with that in terms of the euphoria of them being in a group stage.
"This is one I think they can really go after. Then you look at Hacken's form, they're sitting tenth in the league, they're really struggling this year in a 16-team league, they've conceded 44 goals as well, so that tells you defensively they're not all that sound.
"I think Joey O'Brien and the team can really go after this, and to be fair, the group stage for Shelbourne, it's one that they can kind of approach in that manner.
"I hate to use the phrase sometimes 'a free hit' because there's so much at stake. I wouldn't use that but certainly in terms of them and all the excitement around them being in the Conference League group stage, it's almost bonus territory. Now they're here they can just go and enjoy it, whereas you look at Shamrock Rovers, that's an expectation for them year in, year out now."
While Shels have been inconsistent in their attempt to defend last season's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title, they did get a much-needed win over Waterford on Friday at Tolka Park.
On the venue, Cawley reasoned that the only downside going into the Hacken game is that they will be hosting the game over in Tallaght but still expects a huge red-clad crowd and backed them to go into it without any trepidation regardless.
And given that, statistically speaking, Hacken have not been at their best in the first half of games this season, a front foot start for Shels would be optimal rather than being overly cautious.
"Not recklessly to be fair," he said.
"Obviously there would be a viewpoint where they'll have to be very well set-up when the ball is turned over.
"But I think Joey's done a great job in that regard and the big difference for me, in what we've seen since Joey has come in - and Richie has touched on it - is the two 10s.
"So he plays the 3-4-3 but with two 10s with (Ali) Coote and Harry Wood and the two of them have been absolutely fantastic, almost like letting the shackles off them and they're really enjoying their football as Richie said.
"Both of them scored the other night but in those European games that we've seen so far, particularly the Linfield ones, Harry Wood was the best player over the four games. He was absolutely brilliant against Linfield.
"I think a big introduction to the team on the wing-back side is Milan Mbeng who has done very well since he's come in. I think (O'Brien) will go with Mbeng because of his defensive instincts.
"Will it be (Jordan) Norris on the other side or Tyreke Wilson? Norris played the other night. I think in the back three, Sam Bone has done very well since Joey has taken over as well and he's got himself into the team.
"I think he's always consistent with his selection since he's taken over, Joey. He kind of knows what he wants in terms of getting Coote and Harry Wood into the team and I don't think it will be any different during the week."
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