Micheál Glynn feels Larne's Charity Shield meeting with Crusaders will be the perfect preparation for their Champions League qualifier with HJK Helsinki.
The league winners take on the Irish Cup winners in the NIFL Charity Shield in partnership with White Ribbon NI at Inver Park next Saturday.
It is an earlier than usual date for the traditional curtain raiser to help both teams with some valuable preparation ahead of their European ties.
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While Glynn welcomes some competitive opposition he is also targeting another winner's medal.
"It's another trophy and we will go out wanting to win it," said the 21-year-old.
"It will give us great preparation going into Europe and the game against Helsinki.
"We know the players Crusaders have and they've a great squad there.
"The signings they have made mean they are going to be a different Crusaders than what they've been in previous years."
The Invermen know they will be up against it in their two-legged Champions League first qualifying round after being paired with Finland's most successful club.
Glynn insists they will embrace the challenge against Helsinki as he prepares to make his European bow.
"It's going to be a good challenge and we will do everything we can between now and then to try and come out on the right side of the result," he said.
"It's going to be tough, but it's one we will embrace as a squad and a club to try and progress.
"It will be my first game in Europe. As a player, those are the games you want to play in, it's a different experience and you learn a lot from those fixtures speaking to people who have been there and done it, so I'm looking forward to it."
The former Derry City man has certainly hit the ground running since his January move to Larne, playing a key role in helping Tiernan Lynch's men secure a first-ever Premiership title.
"It was an amazing six months," he said. "I could never have envisaged winning the league in that time, but coming here that was my aim from day one and I had to work hard and try to contribute what I could to the team.
"It was a good challenge for myself as when I was at Glenavon I could never have imagined coming into full-time football and challenging for league titles.
"Those are things you want as a player, you want to be in those positions and challenging for league titles."
NIFL's Charity Shield returned last year as part of the league’s official Charity Partnership with White Ribbon NI, as Crusaders defeated Linfield in a match which raised over £4,000 for charity.
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