Motherwell defender Declan Gallagher feels his club and others need to start producing in Europe for the sake of Scottish football.
Celtic have been regulars in the group stages in recent years while Rangers have qualified two seasons in a row but it was Aberdeen 13 years ago who were the last club outside Glasgow to make it past the qualifiers.
Motherwell came close 10 years ago when they fell to Odense in the Europa League play-offs but the Scottish co-efficient tumbled in subsequent years following the financial collapse of Rangers, making the task even more difficult.
Gallagher and his men are looking to complete a Northern Ireland double when they face Coleraine at The Showgrounds on Thursday in the second qualifying round of the Europa League after dispatching Glentoran 5-1 at Fir Park in the opening round.
With Albanians Laci or Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel awaiting in the following round, Gallagher is determined to progress.
The Scotland international said; "It's massive, not just for the club itself but massive for Scottish football as well. Celtic and Rangers are carrying a big burden to always get to Europe.
"I think it's probably time that other clubs in this league start progressing and start showing that Scottish football is a good league."
Motherwell's first-round victory was more edgy than the scoreline suggests with the game opening up only after Glentoran had a man sent off and the home side got the breakthrough after the hour mark.
Coleraine's victory over Maribor ensured Motherwell were seeded for this round and they then drew Oran Kearney's side.
The former St Mirren boss came up against Motherwell on four occasions two seasons ago, taking four points off the Steelmen, but Fir Park manager and former Northern Ireland midfielder Stephen Robinson is also well-versed with Coleraine.
Gallagher said: "The gaffer has good knowledge of a few of their players, he has given us insight into how they might play and shape up. So it is good knowledge, and Trevor Carson knows a few of the boys as well. So we will be well prepared and we've been doing our homework.
"We watched clips of the Maribor game, they are a hard-working team, well-organised so we know it's going to be a really tough test for us."
Motherwell gave themselves a lift going into the game by sealing their first Scottish Premiership win of the season with a 1-0 victory over St Johnstone on Saturday but Gallagher had not been overly concerned about their early-season form.
"I didn't think there were any panic stations just yet, we just weren't getting that rub of the green," he said.
"Hibs were flying high when we went to Easter Road and we probably played the best we have played this season and only got a point. Saturday was probably the worst we played and yet we got three points. That's football for you.
"I didn't think there was anything to panic about and now we have picked up those first three points I think we will kick on now."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here