GEORGE HORAN is desperate to win his fitness battle so he gets the chance to play in another huge game for Connah's Quay Nomads on the European stage.

Andy Morrison's Welsh champions take on Dinamo Tbilisi, who finished top of the Georgian league last season, in the Europa League second qualifying round at Wrexham's Racecourse ground tomorrow night.

It is the latest in a long line of high profile matches for Nomads over the last few seasons, and Horan is relishing the occasion.

"The past couple of years we have had loads of big games and we have got good results," said Horan.

"There have been a lot of finals domestically, the Scottish Challenge Cup and playing in Europe; it is something we are used to so it is good to carry it on this year.

"The first game in Europe last month was disappointing, fitness and match sharpness might have taken us a bit closer if we had more games.

"But hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves this time."

Horan believes Dinamo Tbilisi will be favourites to progress rather than Nomads, who were beaten 2-0 by Sarajevo in last month's Champions League first qualifying round tie.

But the 38-year-old centre-back says that doesn't faze Quay who are more than capable of winning.

"Sometimes it is suits us better playing against superior opposition where we are underdogs," said Horan.

"We have a game-plan, we set our stall out and we normally take teams quite close by doing that.

"It's going to be interesting. They are a good team, they have won their league and it is a tough draw for us but it is going to be exciting.

"Our manager sets-up well, we study the other team and we go about our business like we do.

"Hopefully that will stand us in good stead on Thursday."

The Sarajevo clash took place at the Cardiff City Stadium but Horan believes playing closer to their Flintshire home has its advantages for Nomads.

"For a part-time player it will be better playing at Wrexham," said Horan.

"Being local and closer to home will be best for us.

"But the experience of playing in Cardiff was great; the pitch was superb and if we had taken some fans it would have been unbelievable.

"It is what it is where we are with the situation at the moment."

Horan is going back to where it all began having started his career with Wrexham.

"I don't like to mention that because I get a bit of stick for it having played for Chester for years!" said Horan.

"But it will be great to go back, I had some good times there."

But Horan missed Saturday's opening Cymru Premier fixture with Bala Town, which ended in a 1-1 draw, with a hamstring problem and faces a race against time to be fit for tomorrow's game.

"I had a hamstring injury a couple of weeks ago and trained a bit too early on it," added Horan.

"I am gutted. I was absolutely devastated to miss the first league game of the season which is always a good game to play in and to be touch and go for this European game is so disappointing.

"I will see how I recover."