Shamrock Rovers v Bnei Yehuda

SHAMROCK ROVERS manager Michael O'Neill is approaching tonight's tie against Bnei Yehuda with a positive attitude but is aware of the danger the Israelis pose.

Back in European competition for the first time since the Intertoto Cup campaign of 2003, Rovers host the Tel Aviv-based side tonight with the return game next Thursday in Israel and O'Neill has been stressing the importance of not conceding an away goal tonight.

Speaking at a press conference at Aviva Stadium, venue for the competition's final next May, O'Neill said: "We can't win the (overall) tie tonight but we can lose it. We won't go into the game with any fear and I want my players to go out there and enhance their reputations.

"We go into the game with no illusions. They are a good side and the tie is as difficult as any we could have got. We have a young squad but people don't realise that. I think an awful lot of emphasis is put on experience but we have a strong enough squad to deal with it."

O'Neill is without the long-term injured Pat Sullivan along with Dessie Baker (Achilles), but otherwise is at full strength.

Bnei Yehuda arrive in Tallaght having beaten Armenian side FC Ulisses in the first qualifying round with no major injury concerns. Their league season does not start until August 21st but manager Dror Kashtan does not see that as a disadvantage.

He said: 'I have only seen Shamrock Rovers on DVD and know they have played 20 league games so far. We are in our off-season but we have been back training since June 8th."