GOOD VIBRATIONS is what Sligo Rovers manager Ian Baraclough is hoping his players can use to their advantage going into tonight’s European duel with Spartak Trnava.

The Premier Division leaders will put league matters to one side as they take on a team who finished runners-up in the Slovak Super Liga and narrowly missed out on the Europa League group stages.

Yet, there is no sense of fear amongst the Sligo squad as their domestic form coupled with the financial well-being of the club has given them every reason to be upbeat.

Baraclough insists the target is to make sure that the tie is not lost by the time the Slovaks turn up at The Showgrounds for next week’s second leg and he is backing his players to achieve that.

“It’s important that we keep the tie alive going back to The Showgrounds next week. Getting an away goal would be an added bonus,” said Baraclough.

“If we’re within touching distance when the tie goes back to The Showgrounds, then we can get our fans bouncing and behind us. And that would be magnificent for the town and for us.

“All of the factors come into account – we’re flying high at the top of the table, we’re doing well off the pitch with a new stand opening and we’ve done great with the people we’ve re-signed.

“There is a great positivity around the club and if we can take that into a big European night, what a lift that would give to the players and go and get us into the next round.”

Right-back Alan Keane could miss out due to a calf injury, while Mark Quigley did not travel due to personal reasons, though Baraclough played down some rumours that the striker was set to quit the club.

The 41-year-old ex-Scunthorpe manager would prefer to focus on getting through tonight’s difficult game as Sligo attempt to gather some momentum on their own European run.

SPARTAK TRNAVA: (Probable): M Filipko; P Gross, P Cvirik, L Hanzel, M Janecka; V Stozicky, M Karhan, M Bicak, M Gasparik, M Mikovic; I Schranz.

SLIGO ROVERS: (Probable): G Rogers; A Keane, G Peers, J McGuinness, I Davoren; R Boco, J Ndo, D Ventre, D Cawley, R Gaynor; D North.

Referee: Tommy Skjerven (Norway).