League runners-up Cliftonville make the trip to Slovakia this evening for their UEFA Europa Conference League clash with DAC 1904, kick-off 7:30pm.

For the Reds the game will mark a return to European football after a break of three years following a successful domestic campaign that saw them lift the League Cup and push Linfield to the final day in the race for the Gibson Cup.

Paddy McLaughlin has had a productive transfer window in preparation for the new season, bringing in Ronan Hale from Larne, Stephen Mallon (Bohemians), Jamie Robinson (Chesterfield), Gerard Storey (Derry City), keeper Fynn Talley on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion and securing Luke Turner on a permanent basis.

The Reds have also been busy on the pitch ahead of the game, playing friendlies against a Shamrock Rovers XI plus Welsh duo Bala Town and The New Saints.

Tonight's opponents, based in the southern Slovakian town of Dunajska Streda, finished fourth in the local Fortuna Liga to qualify for Europe for the fifth successive season.

Managed by Adrián Guľa, their squad includes current former internationals from countries as diverse as Montnegro, Panama, Slovakia, Congo, Latvia and Hungary!

The return takes place at Solitude next Thursday (14th), kick-off 8pm with the winners going forward to meet either Vikingur (Iceland) or Europa (Gibraltar).