Olaroiu looking forward to final

FC Steaua Bucuresti and Middlesbrough FC will both be without key forwards for tonight's UEFA Cup semi-final first leg in the Romanian capital but neither side is looking for excuses.

Serious concerns
While Steaua knew they would again be missing Victoras Iacob, who is nearing fitness after a shoulder problem, they also have serious concerns about Andrei Cristea. He has suffered a knee injury and a decision on his fitness will be left until as late as possible. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, lost in-form Australia striker Mark Viduka to a troublesome thigh just before setting out from England.

Time to rest
Still, a 45,000-capacity crowd at the Lia Manoliu stadium will expect Steaua to overcome their striking woes as they stand on the verge of emulating their European Champion Clubs' Cup-winning team of 1986. After the high of defeating city rivals AFC Rapid Bucuresti in the quarter-finals, the players were also given two days off with the postponement of their weekend fixture against FCM Bacau.

'Worked hard'
"We have worked hard and suffered a lot to get to the semi-finals," coach Cosmin Olaroiu said, having seen his side move into range of the Romanian title with a 1-0 victory over FC Politehnica Iasi last Wednesday. Following the weekend break, they are three points off top spot with two games in hand. However, European matters are all that occupy the coach's thoughts today. "We deserve to play at this level and are extremely motivated about getting to the final," Olaroiu said. "We have a very good chance, despite the fact we will play against a tough opponent with high-quality players. The ideal result would be a victory without conceding."

Christie back
In Viduka's absence, the threat to the Steaua rearguard will be Yakubu Ayegbeni and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, while Malcolm Christie is also in the visitors' squad having returned from a year on the sidelines with two substitute appearances over Easter. However, manager Steve McClaren has been deprived of his first-choice central defensive pairing, with captain Gareth Southgate out with an ankle problem and Chris Riggott suspended. McClaren's men have lost their last two away games in the competition, at AS Roma and FC Basel 1893, but with an FA Cup semi-final against West Ham United FC to come on Sunday, this week offers an unprecedented opportunity.

'Extraordinary period'
"We haven't won anything yet but we're determined to give it our best shot," said McClaren, who led Middlesbrough to the only trophy in their 130-year history, the English League Cup, in 2004. "So far we've simply created an opportunity to make this season historic. We now face an extraordinary period of three cup semi-finals, and we are ready to rise to the challenge. What an opportunity it is - situations like these don't come along very often in your career."

Chance for youth
Middlesbrough's fixture schedule has been heavy in recent weeks, forcing the manager to rely on a number of academy products, yet McClaren insists he has no qualms about involving the youngsters despite the magnitude of the games. "You have to look at the bigger picture," he said. "We've tried to weigh things up, and in the last two matches we've involved every fit player."