Dwelling on the expectation of a comfortable passage through to the second qualifying round is something Drogheda United captain Stuart Byrne and his team-mates are fully conscious of avoiding as they begin their quest to improve on their Uefa Cup endeavours of last year.

Scarcely has a League of Ireland team gone into a European tie such big favourites to progress as Paul Doolin's Drogheda will be at the Stadio Di Serravalle.

The lowest ranked team in the competition, not only are Libertas an all-amateur side, they are playing in Europe for the first time while their season does not start until September.

"We just get out and perform," said Byrne in answer to how the players cope with their proverbial hiding-to-nothing scenario.

"There is no doubt that there is an expectation on us to do well after last year. The reality is that it is a difficult game for us. It's the Uefa Cup. We're here on merit as are they. The players have no illusions about the task.

"The best thing we can do is put those expectations out of our heads. There is an expectation level there among the team anyway, so as long as we fulfil those expectations we shouldn't have a problem."

With left-sided midfielder James Keddy not travelling as his wife is expecting a baby, Doolin is forced into at least one change from the side that beat Bohemians last Friday.

Libertas, with Davide Simoncini the only one of their players who played against Ireland in February likely to feature tonight, have lost seven of the side that finished runners-up in their league last year. "Our dream is to win," said their manager Pierangelo Manzaroli. "My players will give it everything."

Drogheda United (probable): Connor; Shelley, Tambouras, Gartland, Gray; Whelan, Byrne, Bradley, Robinson; Ristila, Zayed.

AC Libertas v Drogheda Utd

Stadio Di Serravale, 8.0