Rijeka dangerman Toni Fruk doesn't need special attention says Derry City midfielder

The £10 million rated attacking midfielder caused the damage in the first leg in Croatia by scoring the goal which gives Rijeka a narrow advantage.

And while former Arsenal midfielder Olayinka is fully aware of the danger the Croatian international poses if given time and space, he's more concerned about causing problems for their visitors who arrived in Derry yesterday and stayed at Ebrington Hotel.

"It's the same as the last time [CSKA Sofia]," began the midfielder. "When you play in these games there's a lot of good players, good footballers who play a different style of football than what you're used to.

"They can manipulate the ball and keep it,” added Olayinka who had to deal with CSKA Sofia dangerman Stefano Sensi in their previous European clash. “But as a footballer, I think you understand those things. A lot of times every football game is the same. You have to get into people's faces, you've got to get after the ball.

"As a player, no one likes it when you're in their face and aggressive, making them rush decisions. We know they have good players but it doesn't change our approach. We need to be aggressive and take the ball off people in the right areas and hopefully capitalise at the other end.

"I don't think anyone will get special attention but you still have to understand and respect certain players and different ways they can hurt you. It's about, as a team, making sure the ball goes into certain areas and when they do you're aggressive and keep it where you want it to be.

"It's not just players like him [Fruk]. Players we play against domestically, if you give a good players space and time in the wrong areas then they are going to hurt you. So it's not about one single player, it's about the team and how we manipulate the ball."

Olayinka, who scored on his European debut in the 3-2 defeat to CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria in the Europa League first round qualifier, has been a mainstay in the side in recent weeks. The Londoner has played 90 minutes in both legs against Sofia and 80 minutes in the first leg in Croatia.

He's enjoying his first experiences playing continental football and is confident Derry can progress into the third round with a memorable victory on another 'special' night at Brandywell.

"I have full confidence in our team and our coaches that once we do that we will be on the right side of a result. We got a lot of confidence from the last tie at Brandywell.

"Lots of chances and at the end of the day it was our mistakes took the game away from us. If we have another performance like that and are ruthless, then we are well in the tie and have a good chance to get through."

Olayinka is hoping the Brandywell support can ruffle the feathers of their Croatian visitors despite Rijeka's vast European experience.

"The last one was my first time seeing a European night at the Brandywell as it was for a lot of players. The atmosphere the fans created shows how the place can get when we're on top and creating chances - it's a special place to be.

"We feel it when we go over there [Croatia] with the noise of the fans but I think it starts with us - giving the fans something to get behind and giving them something to cheer about. The momentum then starts to build and that's when opposition teams and players make mistakes. That's when we need to be ruthless and capitalise."

Derry must overcome that 1-0 deficit from the first leg and the former Waterford man knows it will take a much more 'aggressive' approach to navigate their passage into the third round.

"Chances are difficult to come by because we're playing against good sides and they're not going to give away a load of chances unless you really get your passing right and get your runs right.

"When you do that, especially at the start of the game, if one comes our way that we try and take it. If we don't take it we have to create more and more and eventually when one comes hopefully the momentum can take us through with the help of the fans.

“I think our approach changes in the second leg. You adopt a more aggressive mindset both with and without the ball. Over there, you're probably a bit more comfortable with them having the ball and us being solid.

"That's probably why we were disappointed with the goal we conceded because we were in a good defensive shape. So at home it's about being more aggressive and putting them under pressure to make mistakes.

“You still have to respect them and what they can do. They can keep the ball well but you have to throw caution to the wind a bit more and worry less about being compact and solid and just get after them.”