BOTH Garreth O'Connor and Jason Gavin have spent the majority of their careers in the UK, but the St Patrick's Athletic duo reckon that qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League would top the lot.

O'Connor (30) came home to Dublin earlier this year after nine seasons in the UK mostly spent at Bournemouth, although he also played in the Championship with Burnley and had a brief spell with Luton.

Although he has done well out of the game, he believes that causing a massive upset against Steaua Bucharest would outrank his previous achievements and justify his pragmatic reasons for returning to Ireland.

"I just wanted to come home, start a family and buy a house and all that," said O'Connor.

"I could have stayed over there for a few more seasons but I'd be moving around so there's no point in doing that. You might have been getting an extra few quid but it's not going to break the bank so I decided to come home.

"If we get a result, then definitely it would be the highlight. The highlight beforehand was scoring in the play-off final for Bournemouth at the Millennium Stadium (a 5-2 win over Lincoln at the Millennium Stadium in 2003) but this would be up there."

Europe is a new experience for a player better known as a winger, but converted into a central part of a 4-5-1 formation with his current employers.

In the previous round in Russia, as the Saints chased the game, Jeff Kenna reverted back to a 4-4-2 and threw O'Connor back to a familiar left-wing role where he provided the cross for Declan O'Brien's decisive header. That was enjoyable, but he is more than satisfied with his new berth.

"I've played my best football in the centre since I've come home," he says. "So I'm happier there."

Gavin, who played in the Premier League with Middlesbrough under Terry Venables, is not too chuffed with his current role as a makeshift right-full but he is old enough to understand that needs must at this juncture of the competition.

"The gaffer knows I don't like it, but I have to do a job for the team," says Gavin, who has experienced European football with Drogheda two years ago, and the St Pat's run to this stage of the competition last year.

The 29-year-old feels that collectively, this group of players have the right blend of experience and quality to rise to the task.

"There is confidence and belief after the result in Russia," he affirms. "Our league form hasn't been good this year but we seem to be able to step it up in Europe. Hopefully we can do it again."