Italy failed to progress out of the group stages in South Africa this summer after being held to a 1-1 draw by minnows New Zealand, a fate Del Neri wants to avoid when his side face unheralded Irish opposition in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

"The next round in the Europa League is not a given because we'll be playing 11 against 11," he told www.juventusmember.com.

"We saw at the World Cup with New Zealand that they could create physical problems. To face a tough team from a tough league like the Irish one - nothing is already decided."

Rovers completed an aggregate win over Israeli side Bnei Yehuda last night to book their glamour tie against the Italian giants.

But Del Neri is confident the extra match practice will not prove too much of an advantage to the Irish side.

"We will have a month's work in our legs by then and, even though they have played some games more, we'll be ready," he said.

"I like the attitude of the players, the conviction, the application and attention they're putting into training. They are all eager to give their best on the field."

Shamrock's excitement at the upcoming tie may be tempered somewhat by the news the return leg will not go ahead at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin because it has been booked by fellow Dubliners U2.

The Irish rock band are beginning the latest European leg of their ongoing 360° Tour at the venue on August 6.

That is the day after the scheduled date of the second leg of the qualifier and the band will be in residence at the venue by then.

The match will instead take place at the 19,000 capacity Stadio Alberto Braglia in Modena.

Next Thursday's Dublin leg, though, is not expected to be moved, despite a demand for tickets which will likely greatly exceed the 6,000 capacity of the Tallaght Stadium.

Wherever the venue, Juventus forward Davide Lanzafame is simply happy he will not be faced with too arduous a journey.

"Seeing the length of the trip, it is better to travel to Ireland than to Israel," he told Juventus Channel. ``We do not know Shamrock Rovers, however, and therefore we have to study them through videos.''

Last season was a huge disappointment to the Bianconeri as their Serie A title challenge slid away alarmingly in the second half of the season and they could finish only seventh.

Lanzafame, who spent most of last season at Parma on loan from co-owners Juve and Palermo, believes they are building well for the coming campaign.

He said: "We are improving and now that the internationals are back we are working very much on tactics, adding new elements to our targets and we will be ready for the friendly match against Lyon (tomorrow) and the Europa League match.

"We need time (to be a team). At first you get to know each other and get used to one another but to become a team you need months of work."