The 34-year-old Dubliner has earlier group stage expertise in Europe with Dundalk in 2016 and 2020 and mentioned it might be “the top” for lots of the squad ought to the Blues flip the tables on the League of Eire champions this time round.
“The likes of Jamie Mulgrew, Kirk Millar… It is Kirk’s testimonial 12 months this 12 months, so no extra becoming 12 months to get into the group stage,” he mentioned.
“Individuals who’ve been on the membership a very long time, David (Healy) the supervisor for a very long time and (package supervisor) Gary Eccles right here for 41 years – it might be good for these folks to get to the group stage.”
Shields missed the primary leg of the Champions League qualifier at Tolka Park in July on account of suspension however is out there for Thursday’s return to Dublin which might see him make his sixtieth look in European competitors.
That recreation was Linfield’s first aggressive fixture of the brand new marketing campaign with Shelbourne halfway by means of their very own home season and Shields is hopeful the “minutes within the legs” since will put the Blues in a greater place this time round.
“We’re undoubtedly higher ready,” he added.
“We have had six European matches and each one in every of them had been robust and difficult matches [that] you’re by no means going to get with a pleasant, plus the Dungannon (league) recreation final weekend.
“We have the minutes within the legs and the our bodies are in a much better place going into this spherical than the primary spherical after we met them. The unknown is out the window as we’re acquainted with how Shelbourne play and we’re extra acquainted with how we play since going into the final one.”
