WINGMAKERS' midfielders Tom Field and Glenn Rule both believe that playing at Bangor City's Nantporth Stadium can help Airbus shock Haugesund in Thursday's first qualifying round of the Europa League.
With The Racecourse Ground unavailable due to improvements to the playing surface, Airbus have been forced to play their home leg in Bangor.
But Field insists it will help rather than hinder Airbus, who have won on each of their last four visits to Nantporth.
The Wingmakers won both league matches and a Welsh Cup tie at Bangor during the 2013/14 campaign, as well as last week's friendly between the two sides.
"I think the fact that we played the tie at Wrexham was good, but it was our first game there and we are used to playing at Bangor," explained Field to Tom Norris of the Leader.
"Obviously it is not a big ground and we won't be as nervous, so if we can settle down and play our football, I think we will definitely give them a shock."
Field also believes Airbus will be better for the experiences of last season, when they exited the first qualifying round of the competition on away goals to Latvia's Ventspils.
A 1-1 draw in Wrexham was followed by a goalless draw in Latvia, meaning Airbus were out despite not losing a game.
We've had a year in the competition and that will help us a lot.
"We've had a year in the competition and that will help us a lot," he continued.
"We look back at the games against Ventspils and think 'we should have done this and we should have done that', so this year we are prepared better.
"To get through this round would be an unbelievable achievement and I think we can do it."
Meanwhile, Rule believes Airbus are much better prepared for Europe than when they made their debut 12 months ago.
"It was all new last year and we maybe went into last year thinking ‘at least we are here’, this time we are pushing even more to win,” he explained.
"We are not coming into the competition this year to make the numbers up.
"We pushed them (Ventspils) so far and to go out of the competition without losing a game was hard to take.
"Hopefully this time we are more equipped.
"I feel a bit calmer this year, although I got a bit nervous thinking about the game when the draw got made, but I think a year on we are all a bit more experienced,” continued the 24-year-old.
"We will go into the competition more prepared, the gaffer has changed things this time by keeping us going right through since the end of the season and we’ve noticed in the game we’ve played that we are sharper.
"We haven’t had to play catch-up and hopefully that will benefit us.”
Photo: Glenn Rule in action at Ventspils last season.
