Linfield defender Ben Hall is well aware of the financial significance of securing European progression this summer as the Blues look to battle against their full-time rivals.

David Healy’s men lost 1-0 to Nomme Kalju in last week’s Conference League first qualifying round first-leg in Estonia, but will undoubtedly fancy their chances of overturning the deficit at Windsor Park on Thursday evening.

Linfield have banked a minimum of €325,000 for successfully making it into Europe – a feat they’ve achieved in 21 of the past 22 years – but are keen to continue adding to their prize money purse.

With Larne in line for another healthy windfall after securing at least a Conference League play-off by beating Tre Fiori in the Champions League and both Coleraine and Glentoran making splashes in the transfer market recently, a European run could be crucial for the Blues.

placeholder image — Linfield’s Ben Hall is hoping to seal European progression on Thursday. (Photo by INPHO/Jonathan Porter)

Victory over Kalju would set up a showdown against League of Ireland outfit Shelbourne, who were linked with a move for manager Healy before appointing John Russell this week, and is worth an extra €200,000.

Hall has called on the club’s supporters to get behind their European progression bid with a lot on the line.

"It's (support) massive, it's what sets this club apart from others in the league,” he told the club’s media channel. “When everyone is pulling in the right direction it's a powerful club.

"We need it and we're probably relying on going through a couple of rounds to bring money in for ourselves and for the club to put it back into the squad. It's going to be massive for us and hopefully they turn out in their numbers.

"It was frustrating to lose (the first-leg) but coming away from the game we have to be more than confident that we can turn it around at home.

"We saw that last year where we've been behind coming to Windsor and it's a different game. Hopefully a big crowd comes out to get behind us and we can turn that around.”

Linfield continued their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 friendly defeat to Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen on Saturday.

Hall and Isaac Baird were the only two players to start in both Thursday’s European opener and a weekend visit of Stephen Robinson’s men with a host of squad members handed a chance to impress.

"They will all learn from coming up against a side of that experience and size,” added Hall. “It's a good run out for them.

"That's the way it's going to be for us this year with a smaller squad and make no bones about it, we're going to need them at times this season when there's injuries. It's an opportunity for them to learn and take that forward into the season.

"It was frustrating to lose the game but it was a good run out for us.

"Aberdeen are a good side and they'll do well in the Premiership this season. It was a good test for us and got minutes in the legs for ones who weren't involved on the Thursday night. It's frustrating to lose a game but it was a good test for us.”