SANTA NO GIFT BUT DAN BELIEVES

DANNY MANDROIU reckons Santa Clara underestimated Shamrock Rovers in the Azores last week.

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

And that's why he feels tonight's mammoth showdown will be an even tougher assignment for the Hoops, despite having home advantage in the playoff decider.

Mandroiu was in inspired form against Portugal's fifth best club from last season, teeing up Danny Grant's equaliser before netting the winner himself.

But while he knows Santa Clara will be gunning for revenge, the attacking midfielder insists Rovers have more gears to find themselves.

Mandroiu said yesterday: “It would mean everything to qualify, especially getting through the three rounds, especially against this opposition, a very tough opposition.

“It's a huge night in Tallaght and hopefully we can get the win and get through to the group stage again because they are the games you want to be playing in.

“It's a more difficult path this year (with no safety net of dropping into another competition) so it would make it even sweeter.