UCD manager Collie O'Neill is confident his side can upset the odds and progress through to the next round of Europa League qualification this evening.
Slovan Bratislava visit the Belfield Bowl leading 1-0 on aggregate, but O'Neill is optimistic that his side can produce a big performance.
"If you’d told them before the last game that they’d lose 1-0 but come off totally gutted, they wouldn’t have believed you, but that’s what happened and now they feel they’re right in it,’ he said.
“Slovan totally underestimated us and that’s not something that will happen again.
"We’ve watched the game back and while they passed the ball even more quickly than we expected them to, you’d have to say that they probably have another gear."
The first leg of the tie seven days ago ended in bitter disappointment for the Students, as a late deflected goal condemned them to defeat against the 10-man hosts.
Progress to the next round would guarantee the First Division side at least €630,000 in UEFA prize money. But as with any nights in Europe, it's the prospect of making history that is driving the Dublin side.
"We've already proved a lot of people wrong, but we know how tough it is going to be. I think Slovan Bratislava probably underestimated us a little bit but I don't think they are going to underestimate us" said O'Neill.
"We have to score, so we can't be too defensive. Our plan worked for what we set out to do last week but this is a different game, this is our home patch, and we'd like to take the game a little bit more to Slovan."
Elsewhere, Dundalk's scoreless draw last night in Oriel Park wasn't enough to spare them an early European exit at the hands of BATE Borisov and Shamrock Rovers who are also in action must overturn a two-goal deficit as they travel to Norwegian side Odds Ballklubb.
O'Neill joined Adrian Barry on Tuesday's Off The Ball and gave his thoughts ahead of the tie.
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