Past experience may give little cause for optimism but St Patrick's Athletic are hoping to turn an important corner for the National League this evening at Richmond Park when they take on Moldova's Zimbru Chisinau in the first qualifying round of the European Champions League.
In recent years Pat Dolan has put much emphasis on his club's ambition to do well in this tournament and, as he has made clear in the build-up to this game, the sad fact is that there is unlikely to be a better opportunity to start turning the tide than in this tie.
"Because we're not seeded we have to play teams that are and that makes it harder for us to win," he said.
Zimbru are in many respects ideal opponents for any Irish club. Second division regulars in the old Soviet Union league, they have dominated the Moldovan scene in recent years, winning all but one of the country's championships since footballing independence in 1990.
In Europe, though, they have made it past the opening round just once despite five internationals who played in Belfast last year and the sort of resources that have allowed the team to spend two weeks in Prague preparing for these games.
"The bottom line is that they'll be looking at us and saying `St Patrick's . . . what have Irish clubs ever done in Europe?'," said Liam Buckley yesterday. "They'll probably think this is a handy one for them but while we know they will be good, we know how good we can be when we click too and there's a very positive feeling around the club that we can get through this round to face Dynamo Tiblisi."
Buckley has a full squad to choose from and has the option of introducing some new blood. He is, however, unlikely to exclude too many of the key figures in last season's championship winning side. The question of who partners Trevor Molloy up front appears to be an open one with Marcus Hallows probably the favourite while Des Byrne, signed from Stockport over the summer, may sneak a spot on the left side of the defence. The actual line up, says Buckley, will not be announced until some time this afternoon.
The St Patrick's manager and the three of his players (Molloy, Colin Hawkins and Martin Russell) who joined him for the prematch press conference yesterday all expressed their satisfaction with the level of knowledge they have built up about their opponents and Buckley said that he expected the visitors to rely on their three central defenders to provide the basis of an away leg result with quick breaks the most likely source of a goal.
If the 2-2 draw in Belfast is anything to go by, and Buckley who talked to Northern Ireland assistant manager Joe Jordan on Monday clearly thinks it is, well rehearsed set pieces are likely to be a major concern for the Irish team too.
The two away goals conceded that night in November effectively extended the Northern Ireland team's already protracted spell in the international wilderness. Anything less than a win for St Patrick's at Richmond Park this evening is likely to mean much the same for the Republic's senior clubs.
Barry Town have no injury worries for their Champions League clash at home to Maltese outfit Valletta tonight.
Goalkeeper David Wells and left back Darren Davies have recovered from knocks to be available for the first leg tie.
Barry boss Gary Barnett goes into his fourth European campaign with several new faces - signed on non-contract forms - to call on.
