Chelsea once again start a league phase fixture as the heavy favourites to win, but Maresca was quick to warn against complacency at his media conference this afternoon. The head coach knows a point will likely be sufficient to finish first in the final standings, but as ever he wants more than that – and he knows it is up to us to achieve it.

‘We try to approach every game in the same way: to do our best and win the game,’ said Maresca.

‘Today in football it is difficult to find a team that has no strengths. All the teams have something good, and some things we can try to work on and win the game.

‘I watched four or five [Shamrock] games and they are a good team. They try to defend as a block all together, and play face to face with the other team. I’m quite convinced all the games are difficult.

‘It depends on us, the way we take that game, and it can become easier or more difficult, but for sure it will be another game we try to win.’

As with our other European fixtures, Maresca said there is the possibility of rotation as he continues to share minutes around our squad. That is particularly relevant at this busy time of year.

After tomorrow’s game, we will put the Conference League on the backburner until March, when our interest in the competition resumes with a Round of 16 tie against one of the teams finishing between ninth and 24th place in the standings.

Many pundits have Chelsea down to win the Conference League this season, but Maresca underlined he is not thinking further ahead than tomorrow’s game.

‘I like to go step by step. The main target was the group stage, now it’s almost there.,' he said.

‘So we will see after the next game because the target is always to go to the next round. Then we will see where we arrive.’