St johnstone boss Tommy Wright maintains a Crusaders success over Champions League regulars Rosenborg would almost be as seismic as Celtic’s win over Barcelona last season.
The Saints manager will be back in Belfast to check out both of the club’s potential Europa League opponents in action, and the Norwegians are firm favourites to take a first leg lead over their Northern Irish hosts.
Rosenborg enjoyed a 4-0 aggregate win over Crusaders at the same stage of the Europa League last term, and Saints fans could probably be forgiven for booking their flights to Trondheim on July 18 when the draw for the second qualifying round was initially made.
Wright, of course, knows better than to write off any side in European competition, but admits he isn’t exactly anticipating a home win.
“I think it would be a massive shock if Crusaders got through,” he conceded.
“You could compare it to and I know Celtic fans maybe wouldn’t think it Celtic beating Barcelona.
“It would be, for any part-time club to beat a full-time club, a massive shock. But I do know them and they are hard to beat.
“They do play a bit of football and they’ve got a physical element of the game, which would probably suit them against Rosenborg.
“But it would be an unbelievable result for them if they could go through.”
“seeing both teams in the flesh should help us this year because we had very little information on Eskisehirspor last year,” added Wright.
“This way we will have had a look at both teams and we will be prepared for whoever we face.”
Such is Rosenborg’s pedigree, having made the Champions League group stages 11 times in the last 18 years, Wright will also travel to Norway for their home league match with Lillestrom on Sunday.
“We’re not jumping the gun that Rosenborg are going to automatically go through but logistically for myself it’s easier for me to watch them this Sunday than going the following week,” he explained.
“It could well be that Crusaders win the tie but I think we’ve got to go and watch Rosenborg at home in a league game.
“Steve (Brown) looked at the Turkish team last year in a bounce game in Holland against a lower league Dutch side and he admitted he learned very little.
“They were even messing about with the shirt numbers to try and confuse us. But that sort of thing won’t happen this time.”
Wright is continuing to run the rule over a few trialists at McDiarmid Park, although interest in former Rangers and Aberdeen midfielder Stephen Hughes is expected to be dropped with the arrival of David Wotherspoon from Hibs.
The Saints boss is understandably delighted to have such a versatile player on board.
Wright added: “He’s a good age, he’s a lot of experience in the SPL, he’s played quite a few under-21 international games and the big plus is that he was desperate to come here.
“He’s a genuine lad, he’s obviously a Saints supporter and he’s got great ability as well. I think there should be more goals in his game and that is something that we’ll look to try and improve.
“He can play in a few positions but we’ll be looking to have him play in that attacking midfield role than anywhere else.”
Wright has also left the door open for Murray Davidson to return.