ANDY MORRISON believes it's "so important" that Connah's Quay Nomads keep a clean sheet against Kilmarnock on Thursday night.

The two teams go head-to-head in the first-leg of their Europa League first qualifying round tie in Rhyl, and Morrison is eager to prevent Kilmarnock from scoring an away goal.

Morrison, who saw Nomads keep three successive clean sheets in their warm-up games, said: "We've worked really hard on our defensive shape, so hopefully that will bear fruit when we go into this European tie.

"It's so important that we leave with nil against us in the first-leg, because I believe we've got a goal in us, whether that's home or away. I always believe with our set-plays that we will create an opportunity to score."

Nomads' blueprint is their 1-0 aggregate success against Stabaek on their first European adventure just over three years ago.

"It's very demanding, but the rewards are terrific, like we felt by beating Stabaek," said Morrison of Europe.

"I was watching the highlights on Sunday and it was the anniversary of the game. It brought back such fond memories and a euphoric time for myself on a personal level and the club.

"We have come so far since then and we are now firmly established as a Welsh European team going into our fourth successive year, and long may it continue."