Lynch: Derry City has nothing to fear in high-stakes Euro clash against Rijeka

The second qualifying round tie is delicately poised, with the Croatians leading 1-0 on aggregate from the first leg at the Stadion Rujevica thanks to Croatia international midfielder Toni Fruk's second half strike.

Derry's European fate ultimately comes down to a shootout at Brandywell in front of another bumper attendance with the club set to increase their earnings from €700,000 to €1.075 million should they progress.

Much is at stake including Derry's coefficient rankings and Lynch suggested his team will adopt a more attacking approach for a game they intend to win, despite being considerable 11/4 outsiders for the match.

"The whole European thing at the club is something we definitely have to improve on," insisted Lynch. "It's very, very difficult when you're not seeded in these early rounds.

"The only way you improve that is by grinding out draws, grinding out wins and over a little bit of time you build your coefficient. Shamrock Rovers are the prime example of that. Larne are now a prime example of that. That's got to be our objective as a club."

Indeed, the Brandywell boss pointed out the difference in financial clout between Derry and their European opponents in the early rounds. The Belfast man claimed the Croatian outfit's playing budget for the season is around £8 million while their previous opponents in the Europa League qualifiers, CSKA Sofia boast a £12 million war chest.

Derry City are certainly no shrinking violets in the transfer market thanks to billionaire chairman Philip O'Doherty but Rijeka is reportedly holding firm on interest from Hull City and Ajax for their £10 million-rated attacking midfielder Fruk - an indication of the stark difference in resources.

Despite the Croatians' financial muscle, Lynch reckons Thursday's game is a level playing field and he's confident the Candy Stripes can progress in what promises to be another special night on Foyleside.

"I think if the second leg against CSKA was anything to go by, that definitely gave us the confidence to have a go at anybody at home," said Lynch.

"We showed in that game, especially in the second half when we took the handbrake off, we started to really believe in ourselves. We got on the frontfoot a lot more. We also passed the ball a lot better. Our objective going into last week, was whether we could bring the tie home still alive and for us this tie is very much still alive."

Lynch is fully aware of the talent in the Rijeka squad but reminded his players it's 11 versus 11 when they step over the white line.

"The lad Toni Fruk is now talking about going from this Rijeka team to Ajax for £10 million. I think their playing budget is £8million. CSKA's was £12 million. There's definitely levels, there's no doubt about that but as I keep telling the players, it's 11 v. 11 whenever they step out onto the pitch. If you take away their time and space, and if we have a little more confidence in what we're doing, then I don't think we have a huge amount to fear.

"There's no doubt, they're a good side but as I keep telling the players, so are we!"

Derry's European adventure could end at the second hurdle having parachuted into the Conference League second round after a 5-3 aggregate defeat in their Europa League first round qualifier.

However, Lynch has urged his players to be 'brave', 'ruthless' and play on the frontfoot in the early stages to give themselves the best chance of extending their European run.

"Our job is to make sure we stay in the tie. We don't need to go out gung-ho and lose the game in the first 20 minutes. To try and get our fans behind us. Our fans were absolutely and utterly unbelievable two week's ago at Brandywell.

"They dragged us through that game for long periods. If we get that same desire, passion then I think it will be a very different night for them.

"I've been involved in a lot of European games now at this stage. The biggest obstacle you probably have is that the players sometimes go into the games maybe not full of confidence. They maybe give a bit too much respect to the opposition.

"If you can take that away, sometimes it just takes a little bit of time. If you look at the first game away to CSKA, it took us 60 minutes to get going.

"The game at home it took us 45 minutes to get going. Last week in Croatia, we got stronger as the game went on. If we could start those games like we finished those games I think we have a real chance.

"We have to win the game. I think we have to get our timings right. You can't win a game in the first 20 minutes but you can lose a game in the first 20 minutes. That was probably what was most impressive about the crowd. They stuck by us. They really got behind us and probably bought into what we were trying to do and where we were trying to go and we need that again on Thursday night.

"We've got to feel our way into this a little bit. We've got to make sure we stay in the game. If we score, please God in the 80th minute and it goes to extra-time then you'll take that.

"It's important we don't go gung-ho. We have to be a little braver than we were. We have to be on the front foot more than we were. There's no doubt about that. But it's important we don't lose our gameplan."