Daniel Cleary insists Dundalk will lure Riga out of their defensive shell if they have to at the Skonto Stadium next week.
The Lilywhites were frustrated after Wednesday night's Oriel Park stalemate because they had created enough chances to win the home leg, despite their Latvian opponent's five-man defensive wall.
That's encouraging for the second leg for the SSE Airtricity League champions, who are rarely that wasteful in front of goal.
"They were quite defensive, just waiting for the counter-attack, but over there hopefully they'll come out a bit more," said centre-back Cleary.
"They're very disciplined in what they do. They're well drilled, they all know what their job is, they're definitely a good quality side but we'll definitely back ourselves over there to get the right result.
"We'll drag them out if we need to - but we'll be ready to counter-attack either way.
"We had a few chances and in other games we'd finish them. Definitely when we go over there we'll create more chances.
"We dominated most of the game, it was a good performance but we lacked a little bit of quality in the last third. We probably could have worked it there a bit better.
"Don't get me wrong, there was some brilliant play, it was just in the last third maybe it didn't work out but we still created chances. You'd be concerned if we didn't, but we had good chances.
"We'll improve on that. But we can't be unhappy because if we score over there, we're the team that has the advantage."
Clearly emerged from the pitchside tunnel and into the rain after the 0-0 draw bearing two cuts on his forehead, the result of an unfortunate clash of heads with Chris Shields just before half-time
The hugely influential Shields came off worse with a cheek and eye socket injuries that forced his withdrawal at the break and he is doubtful for next week's return.
"He's been solid the last year and a half, two years since I've been here, so definitely was a blow to lose him," said Cleary.
"It was just a misunderstanding between us, we just misread it. But that's football, that happens.
"It would be worse if the two of us didn't go for the ball and it ends up in the back of the net.
"You just have to go for it. The lads said he was a bit dazed after and it's safety first, there's no point in risking anything."
Centre-half Seán Hoare stepped into Shields' position, with Andy Boyle coming on alongside Cleary.
"Seán can step into the six role any time he wants, he'll be as good there as he is playing centre-half," said Cleary.
"So we have no doubts about him there, he can do the job."
Dundalk supremo Vinny Perth added: "Seán played really well in there, so the biggest blow was losing one attacking sub. On European nights, players off the bench make a massive difference.
"We didn’t have the likes of Georgie Kelly who we could use from an attacking point of view. Jamie (McGrath), coming back from injury, had to come out.
"We don’t suspect concussion for Chris. It was just the nature of the injury to the eye socket, that another blow could be dangerous.
"When the pain drifts out of the injury, we’ll assess it then."
Dundalk had huge experience on the bench on Wednesday, with Brian Gartland, Robbie Benson, Dane Massey, and Boyle all veterans of the historic 2016 European campaign.
"The lads experienced it all before and I experienced it a bit last year and really everyone is still learning, even the lads who did so well in 2016, because this is a new experience," said Cleary.
"Everyone was disappointed with what happened last year in going out in Larnaca but we'll back ourselves going over to Riga.
"Hopefully we'll get the result".
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