Dundalk boss Fillipo Giovagnoli believes the Lilywhites can reach the Europa League group stage this season.
The reigning League of Ireland champions are in Moldova to face Sheriff Tiraspol tomorrow with a spot in the playoff up for grabs on the night.
The winner will be at home to either Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi or KI Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands in a one-leg decider for the group stage.
Dundalk hit those heights under Stephen Kenny in 2016 while Sheriff qualified for the groups on four occasions in the last 11 years - 2017, 2013, 2010 and 2009.
But bullish Lilywhites boss Giovagnoli said today: “If we perform at the highest level, I think we can be in the group stage, yes, I believe so.
“Why not? We have to perform at the best level we can. We cannot go into games and just be there and not perform.
“But I think there’s a lot more potential in this team, especially if we think about the style and the way to play the game.
“(Dundalk) is a team that can have possession and control and dominate the game more.
“I like this style, where you can control the game, because when you have the ball the opponent doesn’t and it’s better.
“But you have to be organised and prevent the counter-attack. This is what we’re working on. There’s a lot to do, a lot of improvement in front of us.”
Sheriff boast players from all across the globe and Colombian attacker Frank Castañeda and raiding Brazilian left-back Cristiano are their dangermen.
But squad turnover is high and only four players are still on the Sheriff books from last season’s European campaign.
They are also not your typical European side that will look to starve Dundalk of possession.
If anything, Dundalk could have more of the ball tomorrow with Sheriff set up to deliver devastating counters.
Speaking at the team hotel in Tiraspol today, Giovagnoli said: “They’re a team that doesn't need to have possession.
“They have so many quality players that can swing the game in a moment, so to have possession is not that important.
“When they have the ball, they have combinations with a high, high level of attacking players. That’s exactly the picture.
“Let's be honest, individually they’re really, really good so we have a big challenge, a big task ahead of us but we’re ready to perform.
“We’re excited and we're going to perform tomorrow, trust me. I'm confident because I'm spending time with the team almost every day and I can see it.
“I’m really proud of what they’re doing.
“When a new coach comes in and tries to implement a different style, a different belief and a different way of training, the players have responded so fast.”
Dane Massey is out for two months after undergoing surgery on a hip problem but otherwise Dundalk are at full strength.
