THE New Saints stand on the precipice of history with two goes at qualification for European football, according to boss Craig Harrison.

TNS face Moldovan champions FC Petrocub in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round with the first leg on Tuesday and a second leg in Oswestry next week.

That will be Saints' first go at securing European football as victory against their fellow Champions League dropouts would automatically guarantee Conference League competition.

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However, if defeated, TNS will face a Conference League play-off clash, with a victory securing a place in the group stages.

The Saints boss believes his squad has what it takes to secure European nights next season.

He said: “We’ve got two bites at the cherry to deliver what this club has always wanted.

“We’ve got a really good squad and we’ve got players coming back from injury as well and I think we’re fit.

“Over the next four games, we will everyone and everyone at as fit a level as can be because it’s going to be fine margins.

“We might need extra time over the next two legs so we need to be ready and be prepared.

“The togetherness of the group has been outstanding with a really strong squad and the lads are supporting those who are playing in front of them.

“They’re looking after each other and the staff have worked incredibly hard to get everyone fit and prepared in great detail.

“It’s a quick turnover between games.”

Harrison, speaking after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros in the Champions League second qualifying round, believes his side have already shown the way into European football.

“The first 30 minutes of the Decic game is the standard that gets us into Europe,” he said.

“We were right at it in the way that Ferencvaros did that to us away from home as we couldn’t’ quite deal with that intensity.

“And they had very good players with experience and a fantastic football club.

“But if we hit that standard of the first round first leg and the game management of the second leg, then we’ve got a chance, a real chance.

“We took so many positives from the first leg in Hungary and we’ve learned valuable lessons which we showed in the second leg.

“They understood what the threats were and nullified it.

“We just need to get ourselves ready for Moldova because it’s going to be a massive game.

“Any team that beats Sheriff to the championship is going to be good as it wasn’t so long ago they drew with Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“It’s going to be tough to get past them but if we can mix a bit of everything good we’ ve had in these four games, the defensive management away at Decic and the first 30 minutes at home to them.

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“Our second leg is at home and we saw what we did there against Ferencvaros – the lads have given themselves a very good chance.”

The third and fourth rounds return legs will be played at Park Hall for the first time after upgrades to the stadium were accepted by UEFA.

Group stages will still be held in Cardiff – kick-off on August 13 is 6.30pm.