NEIL ASHTON insists that Cefn Druids will have their "heads held high" regardless of the result in their Europa League clash with FK Trakai.

The Ancients welcome the Lithuanian outfit to The New Saints' Park Hall tomorrow night looking to progress past the preliminary round of the competition.

But the experienced defender knows it won't be an easy task against a team that have won seven of their 12 European outings, including a first qualifying round success over Scottish outfit St Johnstone last season.

"Obviously the team we are up against are unknown to us, but it seems to be the toughest draw we could have got," said Ashton.

"It's slightly disappointing to not have been drawn against a lesser side because that would have given us a better chance of getting to the next round.

"This team beat St Johnstone last season, so it will be a tough game, but it will be a great experience for everyone.

"We will have our heads held high regardless of the outcome and the aim has to be to try and win, whether it's pretty football or an ugly game where we grab a winner in the 95th minute of the second-leg."

For Ashton, who could come up against former Everton and Russia wideman Diniyar Bilyaletdinov tomorrow night, the meeting with FK Trakai will be his first taste of European football.

At the age of 33, Ashton is relishing the chance to added some Europa League football to a CV which includes Shrewsbury Town, Wrexham and Chester amongst others.

"It's an unknown challenge for me," said Ashton. "Some of the lads have got European experience, but we've only got a few in the squad. We will need all of that experience.

"From a personal point of view I've played in some big games throughout my career, but this will be a new experience and one I am looking forward to and one the lads are all looking forward to."

The Druids playing squad were written off as relegation candidates at the start of the 2017/18 Welsh Premier League season, proving their doubters wrong to secure a fifth placed finish before winning the play-offs.

Ashton is hoping Druids can thrive on the chance to prove people wrong when they face FK Trakai tomorrow evening.

He said: "We were written off at the start of last season. We were made favourites for relegation and we've just managed to produce the club's best-ever season.

"We overachieved massively and we want to go out there in the Europa League and produce two more good performances.

"I'm proud to be a part of this club's best-ever season and happy for everyone associated with the club.

"After the first game of last season I thought 'oh no, this is going to be tough', but since then it's been great.

"It's a real family club, the fans ask how you are and how your family is and they've helped me settle so easily.

"I drive to Cefn Druids past Wrexham's stadium and it feels like home because that was the drive that I made for five years."