SHAMROCK ROVERS stand 90 minutes from history as they host FC Copenhagen in their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg at Tallaght Stadium tonight (7.45pm).

The Hoops know that if they can overturn a 1-0 deficit from last week's first leg they will progress to a play-off for a place in the Champions League proper.

That would be the first time an Irish club has made it so close to progressing to the most lucrative club competition in the world.

Michael O'Neill's side are already guaranteed a crack at a UEFA Europa League spot should they fail today but they are focusing on claiming the second leg victory which would secure a minimum qualification for the group stages of UEFA's secondary competition.

The Airtricity League champions proved with their performance in the first leg at the Parken Stadium last week that they have every right to believe they can progress.

Nobody is underestimating the quality of Roland Nilsson's FC Copenhagen - who were beaten in the last 16 of the Champions League last season - but there is tremendous belief in the Hoops camp.

Rovers boss O’Neill said: “We have seen a lot of Copenhagen now, and we more or less know what to expect from them. They obviously have the upper hand with the one goal lead, but the tie is certainly not beyond us. 

“We have looked at the game again as a team, and the lads can see for themselves how well they did last week and what they are capable of. We will need to keep up that level of performance if we are to get a result from the game.”

Defender Ken Oman has been ruled out with a knee injury sustained in the away tie last week, while Karl Sheppard remains out of the Hoops squad with an ankle injury. Stephen O’Donnell is a doubt with a hamstring problem.