Unknown quantity awaits Dnipro

FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk are not quite sure what to expect of PFC Litex Lovech as the Bulgarian side make their first trip to Ukraine for Thursday's UEFA Cup Group D game.

Inadequate information
Stand-in coach Vadim Tishenko admitted that Dnipro's information on Ljupko Petrović's side was fairly limited. "We have a video of Litex's match against Grasshopper-Club [a 2-1 win for the Bulgarians], but we haven't seen them play live," he said. "Earlier, I watched all of Dnipro's opponents, but since I am currently head coach there's nobody to do that."

Injured players
Dnipro come into the game on the back of a 1-0 away win against FC Tavriya Simferopol, but they are unlikely to be able to count on injured defender Bohdan Shershun and midfielder Serhiy Motuz for the match as they look to record their first points of an unhappy Group D campaign at the third attempt following defeats against AZ Alkmaar and Middlesbrough FC.

Opening victory
Litex's situation is much rosier, as they won their opening Group D game against Grasshoppers and also picked up a 2-1 win at PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1936 in their most recent league fixture - their first away win of the season. However the news has not all been good. Long term injury victims Zhivko Zhelev (back) and Kostadin Hazurov (broken ankle) are still out, although Zhelev may be fit again for Litex's next game, against AZ.

Minor knocks
Midfielder Petar Zlatinov and experienced defender Rosen Kirilov have been included in the squad for the trip to Ukraine, despite Zlatinov struggling with a minor groin injury. Kirilov, meanwhile, is hoping to shake off a minor ankle injury before kick-off. "Dnipro are very strong side who play at full speed until the last second of the game," said Zlatinov. "But they are not invincible and we are not afraid of them. We believe we may take something from the match."