Shels go north looking to close out Champions League tie
Mipo Odubeko's 58th-minute goal earned Shels a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Blues in their first leg of the first-round qualifier at Tolka Park a week ago.
Shelbourne dominated the first leg in Dublin and had a penalty award overturned by VAR in the first half but Odubeko's goal aside, they were unable to make their possession count on the scoreboard.
Linfield came away relatively satisfied with the result as the game was their first of the season, with the NIFL Premiership not getting underway until August and they'll believe that they can turn the tie around at Windsor Park.
O'Brien meanwhile, made all the right noises about how hard his side worked and how they controlled the game but will know that they could have made the second leg a formality had Sean Boyd and Evan Caffrey shown more composure in front of goal.
The new Shels boss will be hoping that his side don't come to regret those missed opportunities and with so much at stake, he'll be desperate to ensure that his side progress to the second qualifying round and with it the additional prize money €750,000.
Azerbaijan champions Qarabag are waiting for the winners, along with an easier route to European group stage football, with the losers dropping into the Conference League qualifiers.
O'Brien has a full-strength squad to choose from for the trip to Windsor Park as Sean Gannon comes back in, having been suspended for the first leg. Gannon brings a wealth of European experience, having gone deep in UEFA competitions Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers.
Harry Wood, who went off injured after turning in a man-of-the-match performance in the first leg, is also cleared to play.
O'Brien believes that his side, having already got the better of Linfield, can go into the second leg full of confidence, knowing that they can get at the Belfast team.
"We have a small advantage," he said. "The lads have seen them on the pitch - their speed, their movement, how good they are, so you have that feel of who you are up against now.
"These are the games that you want to be involved in as a player. You've won the league and you want to be involved in the Champions League.
"I said it to the lads, not many players get the chance to play in the Champions League qualifier and not many players get the chance to win a Champions League qualifier.
"Ultimately it's about going through to the next round, that's what it's all about. In the background there's the whole financial side but as a player it's all about winning and getting through to the Champions League and the next few rounds in Europe."
Linfield meanwhile, are able to welcome back an old European stager of their own as former Dundalk midfielder Chris Shields is back in contention, having missed the first game through suspension.
Like Gannon, Shields has vast experience when it comes to two-legged European ties and he could offer Linfield an extra dimension in midfield, but manager David Healy is being coy as to whether or not he will start.
"We underperformed with the ball last week," the Linfield boss said. "Our work ethic and organisation was there, but if we are better on the ball tomorrow night with the players that we have, Chris being back and involved – I've not decided if he is starting or not – we will be better.
"I have no doubt we will be better in possession."
Healy feels that his side can improve on their first-leg display and with the tie balanced so finely, has spent time on the training ground practicing penalties this week and analysing Shelbourne's history in shootouts.
"There is huge belief that we can build on that performance," he said. "It would be brilliant if we did score in the first 10, 15 minutes and the tie is level, but we don't need to. The most important thing is we build into the game.
"If playing in a league game, on a Saturday, the boys will stay for four or five minutes after and take six or seven penalty kicks just to get their eye in, get in practice.
"As a group we work on everything, we will have a look and know the goalkeeper and as a staff we're aware of previous penalty takers for Shelbourne.
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