Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa Conference League clash between Kilmarnock and Tromso IL, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Both aiming to continue their continental runs and move within one round of the league phase, Kilmarnock and Tromso IL will kick off their Europa Conference League third-qualifying-round tie at Rugby Park on Thursday.

The hosts find themselves at this stage after dropping out of Europa League qualifying at the hands of Cercle Brugge, while their visitors got past KuPS in the previous round.

Match preview

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes on September 21, 2023 © Reuters

Kilmarnock head into their first-ever Europa Conference League outing on Thursday aiming to gain an edge in their qualifying tie, having returned to European competition for the first time since 2019 this term.

They booked a place in Europa League qualifying with an impressive domestic campaign last time around, eventually finishing fourth in the Scottish Premiership having amassed 56 points from their 38 outings.

That saw Derek McInnes's side enter the fight to reach Europe's secondary competition in the second round with a tough tie against Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge, initially coming from behind to play out a 1-1 draw in their home leg thanks to David Watson's leveller, only to fall to a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture as Thibo Somers netted the decisive goal in the first half.

As a result of that narrow aggregate loss, Killie dropped into Europa Conference League qualifying third round, and they now return to action on the back of a tough start to the new Scottish Premiership season, having travelled to defending champions Celtic in their curtain-raiser on Sunday and suffered a 4-0 beating with Reo Hatate and Liam Scales putting the hosts 2-0 up in the first half and Nicolas Kuhn and Anthony Ralston going on to add their names to the scoresheet.

With their sights set on progressing to a main European competition for the first time in the new format, Kilmarnock will look to make the most of their home advantage on Thursday and take an aggregate lead in their third-round tie before visiting Norway for the second leg next week.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes reacts on April 16, 2023 © Reuters

Their visitors, meanwhile, also head into the tie aiming to move closer to their first-ever Europa Conference League main competition appearance, having returned to continental qualifying for the first time since 2014 this term.

That was sealed by a third-placed Eliteserien finish for Tromso last time around, having amassed 61 points from 30 outings, while only trailing second-placed Brann on goal difference, to seal entry into Europa Conference League qualifying in the second round.

Finnish side KuPS were the first side to stand in their way, and the Gutan progressed with a pair of 1-0 victories, firstly prevailing away thanks to Lasse Nordas's goal before Jens Hjerto-Dahl wrapped up the aggregate win in the home leg at the beginning of August.

In the midst of a disappointing 2024 Eliteserien campaign, Jorgen Vik and Gard Holme's side returned to action away at Rosenborg on Sunday and suffered a 1-0 defeat, dropping to 13th spot as a result while just one point and one place above the relegation zone after 18 fixtures.

Now hoping to put that disappointment behind them and maintain a run to the Europa Conference League group stage, Tromso will turn their focus back to their continental pursuits and bid to start on the front foot in Thursday's away leg before welcoming Kilmarnock to Romssa Arena.

Kilmarnock form (all competitions):

Tromso IL Europa Conference League form:

Tromso IL form (all competitions):

Team News

Stuart Findlay defender of Kilmarnock FC during the UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round, 2nd leg match between Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock F.C. at the Jan Breydel stadium on August 01, 2024 [on August 2, 2024] © Imago

Despite their heavy defeat, Kilmarnock should field a similar starting XI from the weekend's Scottish Premiership curtain-raiser away at Celtic, with key man Kyle Vassell bound to lead the line again.

Marley Watkins will also keep his place in the attack, having netted a team-high tally of 13 goals last season, leaving Daniel Armstrong, Fraser Murray and Gary Mackay-Steven to compete for the final spot in the front three.

If Bradley Lyons continues on the right-hand side of a back four, Rory McKenzie may come in to join Liam Donnelly and David Watson in the midfield, while Lewis Mayo will join Stuart Findlay at the heart of the defence.

Tromso should continue in their preferred 5-3-2 shape for Thursday's first leg, with Lasse Nordas continuing to lead the line having notched up nine goals in 19 appearances across all competitions so far this term.

He should again be joined by Jakob Napoleon Romsaas up top, while Jens Hjerto-Dahl will offer further attacking support from the midfield trio, likely alongside Kent-Are Antonsen and Ruben Jenssen, having chipped in with four goals of his own this season.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Lyons, Mayo, Findlay, Bainbridge; McKenzie, Donnelly, Watson; Watkins, Vassell, Armstrong

Tromso IL possible starting lineup:
Haugaard; Paintsil, A Jenssen, Guddal, Skjaervik, Norheim; Antonsen, Jenssen, Hjerto-Dahl; Nordas, Romsaas

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We say: Kilmarnock 1-1 Tromso IL

With both sides on a relatively level playing field and keen to get a foothold in an important third-round tie, we anticipate a cagey opening leg on Thursday, which could end level in Scotland.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.