Champions League: The New Saints face Macedonia's KF Shkendija in qualifying

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The New Saints won the 2017-18 Welsh Premier title

Welsh Premier League winners The New Saints face KF Shkendija in the Champions League first qualifying round.

The Welsh team will travel to Macedonia for the first leg on Tuesday 10 July with the home second leg a week later on Tuesday, 17 July.

Scott Ruscoe's team will hope to beat KF Shkendija over the two legs and reach the next stage.

"We'll be doing our homework over the next week," said Ruscoe.

"We will be studying their games and seeing their strengths and weaknesses and finding out as much as we can."

The winners will face Torpedo Kutaisi from Georgia or FC Sheriff of Moldova in the second round of qualifying ties will be played on 24-25 July and 31 July-1 August.

TNS need to successfully negotiate four two-legged rounds to reach the group stage.

Their best effort came in 2010-11 when Saints reached the third qualifying round, losing to Anderlecht 6-1 on aggregate.

A draw will also take place on Tuesday for the 'champions path' of the Europa League second qualifying round.

Losing sides in the Champions League first qualifying round drop into the other competition's second qualifying round.