If Dundalk can see off Rosenborg they will face the winner of Celtic and Linfield in the Champions League third qualifying round.
Dundalk and Rosenborg are tied 1-1 after the first leg on Wednesday, with the latter bringing the away goal advantage to Norway.
In 1979 Dundalk, who were then a part-time League of Ireland side, met Celtic with a place in the last eight of the European Cup at stake.
A spirited 3-2 loss at Celtic Park, was followed up with an agonising 0-0 draw in the return leg. They would have faced Real Madrid in the quarter-final.
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic team play the first leg of their tie with Belfast club Linfield on Friday. Linfield, reigning Irish League champions, have a large Protestant and unionist association.
The game was pushed back to Friday, and the Scottish champions have opted against taking its 3,000-strong ticket allocation, due to concerns over fan safety.
