Martin O'Neill has warned Aston Villa not to waste all last season's hard work by losing their Intertoto Cup tie with Odense.
Villa head to Denmark for Saturday's first leg knowing victory would virtually guarantee a place in the UEFA Cup.
Having shown dogged determination to seal their sixth-place finish last term a return to the European stage for the first time in seven seasons would be a further sign of the progress Villa have made under O'Neill.
But the Ulsterman is aware how quickly the situation could change, which is why he is eager not to suffer any mishaps this weekend.
"I know the fans are excited about the prospect of European football and I share that excitement - I am sure the players do as well," O'Neill told Villa's official website.
"We worked so hard last year to get ourselves into this position, so there is no point throwing it away at the first hurdle."
With the actual football back at the top of his agenda, O'Neill can put Gareth Barry's future to one side.
Talks between the manager and player, who has been welcomed back into the fold after being suspended as his dream move to Liverpool stalled, have been described as 'positive' although it still seems inevitable he will start the season away from Villa Park.
O'Neill can also afford to be reasonably relaxed about the prospect of Brad Friedel moving to Villa Park after the veteran American informed Blackburn boss Paul Ince that he wants to leave.
"When Brad told us he wanted to leave it was like a bolt from the blue," Rovers chairman John Williams told the Blackburn Evening Telegraph.
"He only signed his latest contract in February and we have not earmarked any funds for the goalkeeping department. Why would we?
"I know some observers will feel we should take Brad's age and service into account but it is not that simple.
"It is a difficult situation because we are keen for him to stay but to deny him the move he clearly wants after a lengthy stint with the club is difficult."
For the moment though, O'Neill just wants to get past Odense, a side who will have the edge in terms of fitness but maybe not class.
Barry has not been considered but Craig Gardner has been included in a 21-man squad after recovering from the groin injury that forced him to miss Tuesday's defeat at Lincoln.
"Odense have taken the time to come and see us, so they are clearly up for the game and we have to be ready," said O'Neill.
"It will not be easy because they are ahead of us in terms of fitness. I have had them watched and have the DVDs of their games against TPS Turku in the last round because we always felt Odense would be the team we ended up playing."
As European Cup winners in 1982, Villa has a rich tradition in continental combat.
O'Neill's experience is even more recent, having guided Celtic to the UEFA Cup Final in 2003.
And though Celtic repeatedly emerged victorious from two-legged ties which began in Glasgow, O'Neill is happy the contest will be concluded at Villa Park next week.
"At Celtic we were at home first in virtually every round and didn't always get the best result either," said the Ulsterman.
"But in general I would prefer to play the second leg at home.
"You always feel you will have the crowd with you and you know exactly what you have to do. If you gave me the choice that is what I would always prefer."
