Moody Strasbourg await Tromsø

Inconsistent side
Jacky Duguépéroux's side have been stunningly inconsistent all season, securing impressive results in Europe like their 2-0 win at FC Basel 1893 in their opening UEFA Cup group stage, but floundering in France where they are yet to win a Ligue 1 game in 13 attempts.

Two extras
The weekend brought another defeat, 1-0 at home against AS Saint-Etienne, and furthermore the coach is forced to add two further players to a list of absentees which already includes Sidi Keïta, Alexander Farnerud and Karim Haggui. Pascal Johansen and Arthur Boka - the scorer against Basel - both sit out the game for disciplinary reasons.

Winter target
Duguépéroux was full of confidence, though, saying: "With another win we're almost sure to be in Europe next year. On paper, it's a mid-table Norwegian side against French strugglers, but if we're as spirited as we were against Basel we can prove we're in a false position in Ligue 1."

Season over
Tromsø completed their domestic commitments for the season at the weekend as they held outgoing Norwegian champions Rosenborg BK to a 1-1 draw in Trondheim. Ole Martin Årst will be suspended for the trip to Strasbourg, and striker Runar Normann may join him on the sidelines if he fails to shake off a knee injury.

Star striker
"We have a confident squad at the moment, coming off a run of six games without defeat in the league," said Tromsø coach Steinar Nilsen, whose side lost 2-1 in their first Group E game at home against AS Roma. "Årst will be missed - he is our top scorer - but I feel we have the strength in depth to cope without him."