Motherwell v Sligo Rovers: Europa Conference League clash has Graham Alexander focused on Steelmen's strengths ahead of Irish test

Graham Alexander says Motherwell are as ready as they can be to host Irish side Sligo Rovers in the Europa Conference League tomorrow night.

The Steelmen clash with the Northern Irish side in the second qualifying round and know their opponents are ahead of them in competitive games, but Alexander says they will simply need to adapt as best they can.

The Fir Park boss has done his homework on the League of Ireland Premier Division side, who lost 2-0 to UCD on Sunday, but says it’s important that they don’t get too bogged down in that ahead of their first competitive outing this term.

Alexander, whose side warmed up for the match with a 1-0 friendly win over Partick Thistle on Saturday, said: “We’ve seen quite a few of their [Sligo’s] games, and we obviously watched the two games [first qualifying round]. We had somebody at their game on Sunday.

“It’s a really important game for us – and them – and we always do our analysis.

“But the biggest thing is us getting our game going, and not focusing too much on our opponents, because we show respect to everybody.

“We’ll have the information that we need to approach the game.

“I feel ready for it, but it’s not me that’s crossing the white line.

“I think the nature of the game now, you don’t get these long six-week pre-seasons to build up to your first competitive game. You don’t get six or seven pre-season games.

“I think you have to maintain the lads’ fitness during the off-season and we did that. They only had 10-14 days off in the summer and then we were back working remotely.

“They came back in great shape, but that match fitness, that match sharpness, you only get from games.

“I don’t think you ever go into game one where you are eventually after five or six games, but you