DIRECTOR of football Andy Preece says the Wingmakers have a good chance of beating FK Ventspils in the Europa League at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground tonight (7.00pm).
But he fears that a gap in match fitness could be the key factor with the Latvians already well into their domestic campaign.
"They're 12 or 13 weeks into their season so they've got a huge advantage," he says.
"We've tried our best in our preparation but the lads have been going away on holiday, it's been difficult to get them all together and it's been difficult to get pre-season games.
"Our friendlies haven't gone entirely to plan either and our one fear is a lack of match fitness and sharpness but we'll make up for it with a lot of heart and desire."
Assistant Andy Morrison flew to Latvia last week to watch tonight's opponents in action and Preece says: "Andy brought back a lot of detailed information as he always does, we prepare the same for our league games, we always watch the opposition.
"And then I've watched two or three DVDs so there shouldn't be any shocks unless they've been hiding someone for the last six or seven games in preparation for the Europa League.
"But they are a strong and physical side very much on an English mentality so we'll probably be used to the way they play, but they have got some quality that probably we're not used to coming up against week in, week out.
"You have to aim high, if you don't you're never going to get there and there's a chance, we've got a good chance.
"It might have been preferable to play the first leg away, but it's always an advantage to play at home and, if we can keep a clean sheet, then when we go away away, one goal is going to put them under massive pressure, so it works both ways and we'll take it as it is."
