Andy Morrison expects a stern test for his Connah's Quay Nomads side after drawing Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round.

After finishing third in the Welsh Premier League to secure their European berth, the Nomads will face the Belarusian side at Rhyl's Belle Vue Stadium on Thursday, July 12.

The return leg will be played at the 4,200 seater Stroitel Stadium on July 19, with Morrison braced for a testing two legs.

He said: "We come up against an in-form Shakhtyor Soligorsk who are in the middle of their season, so there is no doubt that it will be a real challenge. We have shown over the last two campaigns that we are more than capable of getting big results against very good teams."

Meanwhile Cefn Druids, should they progress past Lithuanians Trakai in their preliminary qualifier, will meet FC Irtysh of Kazakhstan.

Welsh Premier rivals mala Town, who also face a preliminary qualifier against Tre Fiori of San Marino, will be rewarded with a tie against NK Rudar Velenje of Slovenia if they advance.

Rangers will kick-off Steven Gerrard's reign with an opening Europa League qualifier against FK Shkupi.

The former Liverpool and England skipper will take his first steps in senior management when Gers host the Macedonian minnows at Ibrox on July 12.

Shkupi, based in the capital Skopje, finished fourth in last season's Macedonian First League.

The Light Blues will make the return trip to their 6,000-capacity Cair Stadium on July 19 as they begin what they hope are four qualifying rounds on the way to the group stages.

The Light Blues suffered a humiliating defeat to Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn under former boss Pedro Caixinha last year, but avoided a repeat clash as they were kept apart as the draw for the first qualifying round was made in Nyon.

Premiership rivals Hibernian face a trip to the Faroe Islands after they landed NSI Runavik in their Europa League opener, with the first leg set for Easter Road.

Northern Irish outfit Glenavon kick-off their qualifiers against Molde of Norway, Coleraine take on Serbian side Spartak Subotica, while Cliftonville face Danes Nordsjaelland.

Dundalk - who became the first team from the Republic of Ireland to win a group stage game back in 2016 - will look to take their first step back to that stage when they take on Levadia Tallinn of Estonia, while Derry City face Belarusians Dinamo Minsk and Shamrock Rovers prepare to battle Swedes AIK.

Burnley will face Aberdeen in their first European tie in more than 51 years after the two British clubs were paired together in the Europa League second qualifying round.

At Wednesday's draw in Nyon, the Clarets were handed home and away clashes with the Scottish Premiership side, which will take place on July 26 and August 2.

Burnley secured their place in Europe for the first time since they reached the Fairs Cup quarter-finals in 1967 by finishing seventh in last season's Premier League, while Aberdeen were runners-up to Celtic north of the border.

Aberdeen have featured in Europa League qualifiers over the past four seasons but have yet to reach the group stage of the competition.

The teams will meet at Pittodrie on July 26 and at Turf Moor a week later.

The Dons' Premiership counterparts Rangers have been handed a clash with either Moldovan side Petrocub or Osijek of Croatia should they get past Macedonian minnows FK Shkupi in the first qualifying round next month.

League of Ireland side Dundalk face a trip to AEK Larnaca if they can get past Levadia Tallinn, while compatriots Shamrock Rovers may not have quite so far to travel if they can see off Swedish side AIK after being drawn against either Cliftonville of Northern Ireland or Danes Norsjaelland.