NEWTOWN will take on Irish giants Dundalk on Thursday with the odds stacked against them.

The club's preparations were dealt a hammer blow in the build-up with four players testing positive for coronavirus.

While manager Chris Hughes hoped some would pass later tests and link up with the squad he admitted the Robins would "not be at full strength."

"We were still waiting on the results for a few but we will not be travelling at full strength which, while disappointing, is the way of the world now," said Hughes.

"We were underdogs anyway but we will be making the trip with confidence.

"We had a great second half of the season and the lads are still buzzing from our play-off final win."

County Times:

Good luck messages to Newtown and TNS at Liverpool Airport. Picture by Brian Jones.

Hughes expected a tough game against the Dublin giants who have qualified for the group stages of the Europa League in recent years.

"They are at home and will be expected to win so all the pressure is on them," said Hughes. "However we will go into the game with a plan and they do not know the qualities we have in our dressing room.

"At the end of the day it is a game of football and anything can happen in those 90 minutes.

"We will be looking to get a positive result to take into the second leg at Park Hall on Tuesday."