Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers has underlined the importance of keeping a clean sheet in his side’s Champions League play-off first leg with Legia Warsaw at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday.

The Airtricity Premier Divison Champions have an historic opportunity to book their passage to the group stage of the Champions League having already seen off European regulars BATE Borisov.

Polish champions Legia Warsaw will provide a hugely testing challenge however and it was only two years ago when they beat Celtic 6-1 in a Champions League qualifier only to have the result overturned due to an illegible substitute.

Nevertheless Rogers is expecting a tight affair and believes than it’s crucial for Dundalk to keep a clean sheet in the first leg.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Rogers said: “European game are always cagey affairs and that away goal can be vital. You can see we got two away goals in Iceland at the start of this run.

“Going into any European game trying to keep a clean sheet is going to be important and we’ll certainly be focused on that.

“But we’ll try and score goals too. This team has a lot of goals in it and goals from all over the team, not just David McMillan, who is on fire. The lads around him are more that capable of scoring as well.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to keep it tight and keep a clean sheet and you’d always fancy our lads to get a goal.”

With Dundalk playing their home leg of the clash in the Aviva rather than Oriel Park, there had been suggestions that the Lilywhites might suffer in the bigger stadium.

“It’s a great setting, players start the year hoping to play in a Cup final here and we’re getting the opportunity to play in it in the Champions League play-off. It’s a terrific boost for everyone,” he insisted.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play here a few times and it’s always nice to come out to the Aviva Stadium and you see the facilities and surrounds, it’s a terrific opportunity for the lads to go and play on a wonderful pitch.

“The two FAI Cup finals with Sligo and Dundalk here to win the double were obviously a highlight of my career.

“It’s a massive opportunity and obviously the setting it’s going to be played in is terrific.

“I think everyone in the league has really got behind Dundalk in the European run and it’s great to see League of Ireland fans all getting behind the one team.”