Harry Kenny is convinced that SSE Airtricity League teams still have the quality to make an across the board impact in European competition.
Results since Dundalk's 2016 Europa League group stages involvement point to a downward spiral but, ahead of St Pats' Everest-like challenge in Norrkoping this evening, the Saints boss refuses to wave the white flag.
Kenny is bullish about playing with the same approach that troubled the Swedes in the opening half of the first leg in Inchicore before his side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.
"We'll probably play that system (3-5-2) again as we wanted to match them up in Richmond Park," he said.
"I felt that it worked very well and we used it in games before that.
"We have got to find areas of the pitch that we can hurt them.
"We certainly won’t be going gung-ho from the start of the game as the game is over 90 minutes, but we’ll be looking to throw people forward if we are in a spot of bother.”
Striker Gary Shaw had a decent shout for a penalty waved away in the opening period and that could have changed the complexion of the tie.
"Referees tend not to award them so early in games, especially if there's any doubt," Kenny reasoned.
"I was convinced that it was a spot kick because their player used his shoulder into Gary's back.
"It often just depends on the individual referee."
The Saints and Cork City are strongly fancied to fall at the first hurdle in the Europa League tonight.
But Kenny said: "I don't think that our teams have plateaued in Europe and Shamrock Rovers got a good result last week in Bergen.
"Cork have had their own troubles this season and in recent years they went into Europe challenging Dundalk at the top of the table.
"I have no doubt that we can compete and remember that the Riga team (against Dundalk) is full of internationals.
"It's harder for us as we haven't been in Europe for three years, so last Thursday was a tough night although I felt that we could have been a little bit better.
"It’s a tough ask, but there is no point in being in the tie if you are not going to go for it.
if we get a goal early on at any stage, or even into the second half, it puts the frighteners on them a little bit and you never know what could happen".
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