Luzern manager Calos Bernegger has highlighted St Johnstone’s Scottish Cup win as evidence of their “good quality”.
The Swiss team will welcome Saints for the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie on July 17.
Bernegger will, like his fellow boss Tommy Wright, use the time between now and then to gather as much knowledge on the opposition as possible.
One thing he is already well aware of, though, is the Perth club’s May 17 triumph over Dundee United at Celtic Park.
Bernegger said: “They have won the Scottish Cup, which proves that there is good quality in their team. I am really looking forward to the matches because St Johnstone is an interesting opponent.
“I don’t know much about the team other than they won the cup but we will do everything to know who their key players are and how they play.”
The Luzern gaffer feels playing the first match at the Swissporarena (kick-off 6.30pm British time) and the return at McDiarmid Park will help Saints.
“The chances for us to win are 50/50 but playing the second match in Scotland is a disadvantage,” claimed Bernegger, who led his side to a fourth-placed finish in the Swiss Super League.
“And I am not sure if it’s an advantage that our season stars a few week earlier than St Johnstone’s does. It will still be a tough time because we have our first league match just three days after the first leg.”
Meanwhile, Luzern are about to lose their star player.
Bulgarian international Dimitar Rangelov, the club’s top scorer last term, is out of contract and won’t be offered a new deal because of budget constraints.