Ricki Lamie admits the prospect of European football was a major draw when he u-turned on a summer move out of Motherwell.
The former Livingston defender had agreed a deal to join Dundee in the summer, but the Dens Park club's relegation from the Premiership gave him a way out through a contract clause.
Lamie scored a last-gasp leveller against Livingston to secure a top-six finish, then the following month netted against Hearts to secure European football, leading to him signing a two-year extension at the Steelmen.
That has led to Irish side Sligo Rovers visiting Fir Park in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round on Thursday evening, and Lamie admits that's a huge reason why he's still in claret and amber.
Lamie played for Motherwell in the Europa League in 2020, shortly after joining, as Motherwell beat Glentoran 5-1, and squeezed past Coleraine 3-2 on aggregate, before losing 3-0 to Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the third qualifying round.
Shotts-born Lamie, 29, says that original qualification was a huge draw for him, as is the second qualifying round that they're days away from.
He said: "I think it was a big pull two years ago when I signed up, initially, and again this summer - especially being involved on a personal note at the end of last season. It was great and I wanted to carry that on and experience it again.
"You never know when it might never come back around.
"You see the teams that are lying waiting at this level, and even the opposition that we're up against at this stage is not going to be easy.
"But I think with the home leg first we'll try to get a good result on Thursday night and take it from there.
"You've had a wee taste of it and it's great that it has come back around, especially so quickly, which is compliments to the manager and the rest of the boys that we've managed to come back.
"That's twice in last 24 months, but there was a wee bit of disappointment the last time around."
Motherwell conceded a set-piece goal to Miguel Vitor just before half-time in Israel the last time they were in the Europa League, and when Declan Gallagher was shown a red card, Josue Pesqueira netted a penalty to effectively seal the tie, with Elton Acolatse adding a late third.
Lamie says it was a good experience overall, but that result left a nasty taste in the mouth.
He said: "It was good. It went by in a flash but we got two good results against the two Irish opposition and then a really good trip.
"It was just a shame we were in the height of Covid times, so it was a strange trip but a good experience all the same.
"It was actually a disappointing result. They were a really good outfit, a good team, but we probably came away with a bitter taste in our mouth, because we could have done a wee bit better to advance.
"A sending off and two set-pieces changed the game. We had chances ourselves, and caused them a bit of bother in the first half, but right on the end of the first half we conceded a set-piece that pegs you back.
"It was really good to experience it, and hopefully we can go on a wee run.
"We need to give ourselves a base and try to see if we can advance. It will be a tough ask but we need to apply ourselves and do the right things, but I think it will be good that we've had that taste of it before."
Lamie, who played in Saturday's 1-0 friendly win over Partick Thistle at Firhill, says it's also good to have fans in Fir Park for their crucial clash.
He said: "Going away [to Israel], the fans were gutted - especially getting the home tie at Fir Park two years ago. The place would have been rocking, and I'm sure venues around the ML1 post code were rocking that night, but it just wasn't in Fir Park.
"It will be great. There's a nice weather forecast, and hopefully we get the numbers in."
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