Make no mistake about it, the Europa League will not be a distraction as Connah’s Quay Nomads and Bala go head-to-head.

Reigning champions Nomads play host to Colin Caton’s Lakesiders in-front of the television cameras on Saturday evening with three important points up for grabs.

Both teams have European commitments next week as Nomads host Dinamo Tbilisi and Bala visit Standard Liege, but it’s the here and now that’s the priority.

“I don’t even want to mention Tbilisi yet,” declared Nomads boss Andy Morrison. “The key for us is Bala. We need to be prepared for that, have a clear identity to what we are trying to do and make sure we are ready for that game.

“Once that’s out of the way we’ll sit down and intensely focus on that European game, but I don’t even want to look at it until Bala are out of the way.”

And Morrison’s words were echoed by opposite number Caton.

“It’s the hardest possible start you can ask for, away at the champions,” he said.

“Our run in Europe has been fantastic but we can’t lose focus on the league either. We have to keep reminding ourselves that that’s how we got into Europe in the first place.

“Every game is highly important to us and so we’ll be focused from the start.”

Nomads have played three Cymru Premier teams in pre-season since the Champions League exit at the hands of FK Sarajevo, beating Cefn Druids, Flint and Newtown.

“It’s come around pretty quickly, everyone expected it to be a bit later, but it’s here now,” said Morrison of the season.

Captain George Horan and midfield duo Aeron Edwards, left, and Declan Poole could return for Nomads after missing the 2-0 friendly success over Newtown.

The New Saints, meanwhile, have one eye on B36 Torshavn as they plot the downfall of Barry Town United tomorrow.

Scott Ruscoe’s men head to Jenner Park this weekend, before visiting the Faroe Islands in the Europa League on Wednesday.

Asked his plans for the quickfire double, Ruscoe said: “You want to play your strongest team.

“But I haven’t got to worry about that because if I take three or four players out of the starting line-up, I know that three or four are as good as, or sometimes better, because there are reasons why they are on the bench, or we’ve rested them or waited until the time is right to play them.”