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Stephen Kenny has challenged his Dundalk players to join Europe’s elite.

The Lilywhites want to create history by becoming the first Irish club to reach the Champions League group stages.

And they will be one tie from doing so if they overturn a 1-0 deficit and send BATE Borisov packing in Tallaght tonight.

Should Dundalk progress, they will be guaranteed the Europa League group stages no matter what happens.

(Image: ©INPHO/)

But Celtic, Olympiakos, Red Bull Salzburg, APOEL and Viktoria Plzen are among Dundalk’s potential Champions League play-off opponents if they down BATE.

Kenny said: “These are historic nights. If you win, you qualify for the group stages of European competition – that’s absolutely huge.

"We’re here on merit and we’ve earned that right. We’re still very much in this and we have to capitalise and be the best we can.

“The prize is all those other games against the top teams in Europe in great stadiums – that’s the motivation.”