Preview: BATE v Slovan Bratislava

• FC BATE Borisov at almost full strength having drawn 1-1 in Slovakia
• Coach Aleksandr Yermakovich predicts rain and a sell-out crowd in Borisov
• No Slovakian side has ever lost to a Belarusian club in European competition
• František Straka predicts "joy and euphoria" if ŠK Slovan Bratislava progress
• Straka reveals that experienced striker Róbert Vittek will start the game

Possible lineups
BATE: Chernik; Mladenović, Filipenko, Polyakov, Khagush; Likhtarovich, Olekhnovich, A Volodko, Krivets; Rodionov, Gordeychuk.
• Out: Dmitri Mozolevski

Slovan: Perniš; Jablonský, Gorosito, Niňaj, Čikoš; Lásik, Štefánik; Milinković, Soumah, Žofčák; Vittek.

Aleksandr Yermakovich, BATE coach
The team is in good shape, their morale is OK and we have no injured players. We now have the same players that prepared for the first game in Slovakia. We realise we will have a hard game with a lot of pressure. We have a pretty good chance of advancing to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and we will do our best to take it.

I know the stadium will be full. Only a couple of hundred tickets have not been sold yet. The support of our fans is very important for us. Our football, our country needs the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

The weather forecast says that it will rain during the match, but I am sure that it will not influence the condition of the pitch. As I have already said, no one is injured. Even Dmitry Baga has recovered. I hope all his problems are in the past. He is getting ready for the game together will all the other players.

We have an experienced team that has gone through many things. We realise all too well that we should not start the game with the thought of keeping the score at 0-0. Every match is a separate story. What score will it be tomorrow? A positive one.

František Straka, Slovan coach
An ordinary game in the domestic championship is one thing; a match as big as Tuesday's is another thing altogether. It will be a very important and prestigious day. We will try to correct our mistakes after missing several chances during the first leg.

Róbert Vittek will start©Getty Images

BATE proved very strong opponents, but we will try to be too. We will pay a lot of attention to good organisation and discipline. Besides that, we will try to focus on our set pieces. Our advantage is that we can spring a surprise – I can't say that we are under pressure. By no means should we rest on our laurels as we constantly have to look to make progress. If we win, there will be a lot of joy and euphoria.

I can't say anything about the starting lineup yet. However, now I can tell you one thing: Róbert Vittek, who scored a goal in the first match, will play from the start tomorrow.

Weekend results
BATE: did not play
Slovan: TJ Spartak Myjava 2-1 Slovan (Kuzma 33, Pekár 89; Halenár 2)

Form guide (all competitions)
BATE: DWWDWL
Slovan: LDWWDW

Match fact
• If BATE wish to win, they must do what no Belarusian side has ever done before. Find out what in our extensive match background.