SHAMROCK ROVERS boss Michael O'Neill knows that his side face an extreme challenge in their Europa League meeting with Rubin Kazan tonight - in every sense of the word.

The Hoops have been the pride of Irish football this year with their progression to the group stages of the UEFA competition but they have found the step up in class a real test.

Tonight's meeting with the millionaire Russian outfit could prove to be the toughest test of the entire campaign - with the quality of the opposition just one hurdle the Tallaght outfit must cope with.

Conditions in Russia are sub zero and O'Neill must convince his men that they can deal with the challenge facing them on a pitch that required a snow plough to clear the surface yesterday.

O'Neill admitted: “It's extremely difficult. There's many factors that will make it difficult.

“Not only the travel and the adjustment to the four-hour time difference, but the climate, and the quality of Kazan. 

“Still, I don't think there will be too big a deviation from how we've played previously. It would be foolhardy to change what has made us competitive.”

Tune into TV3 today to watch the game live from 4.50pm.