Newcastle is without its top goalkeeper and opponent Sporting Lisbon doesn't have its key striker as they chase a UEFA Cup semifinal spot on Thursday.
Newcastle travels to Lisbon without Shay Given, who sustained a hip injury in the 1-0 first-leg win at St. James' Park. He also sat out the 1-0 Premier League loss to Tottenham three days later -- the first time in four years he's missed games through injury.
Sporting is without Brazilian striker Liedson, who is top of the Portuguese scoring list with 24 goals. He's also netted eight times in the UEFA Cup this season but is suspended for Thursday's game.
Elsewhere, CSKA Moscow already has one foot in the semifinals.
It travels to French club Auxerre with a 4-0 first-leg lead. Dutch club AZ Alkmaar hosts Villarreal -- the only Spanish club left in European competition -- with a 2-1 first-leg lead. Two-time winner Parma of Italy hosts Austria Vienna after they drew 1-1.
Sporting has extra incentive to advance -- its Alvalade Stadium will host the UEFA Cup final on May 18.
"English teams are usually very aggressive," said Sporting defender Roberto Beto.
"We know it's going to be a tough game, a real battle, but we have the ability to get through to the next round. We believe in ourselves, and this game will be all or nothing for Sporting's UEFA campaign."
Marius Niculae and Mauricio Pinilla are competing for Liedson's place alongside Ricardo Sa Pinto.
Newcastle won the tournament in 1969 when it was called the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup -- its last trophy in any competition.
The Magpies are in contention for two trophies -- they play Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinals on Sunday -- but could struggle without Given.
"This is one of the biggest weeks in the club's history," Given said. "I have hardly missed a game through injury for four years and it would be a kick in the teeth if I were to miss [the whole of] this week."
Steve Harper plays in place of Given. Captain Alan Shearer has recovered from a bruised leg, while Patrick Kluivert will travel despite missing the past three games with a knee injury.
Newcastle will have defender Titus Bramble back recovered from a hernia injury a month ago, a timely boost as Jean-Alain Boumsong is ineligible and Aaron Hughes suspended.
Reaching the UEFA Cup semis would be CSKA's greatest achievement in Europe. The Russian club reached the quarterfinals of the 1972 European Cup.
Three days after CSKA Moscow overpowered Auxerre, it extended its shutout streak to six matches with a 5-0 win over Krylya Sovetov Samara in the Russian league on Sunday.
CSKA will be hoping for another shutout. Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev hasn't allowed in a goal in 367 minutes in league and cup action, since Ivan Tomic converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute to level Partizan 1-1 in Belgrade on March 10.
Parma hopes that the easing of financial and relegation worries will help against Vienna.
Club officials are reportedly negotiating the sale of the club to a London-based American investment fund in the wake of the collapse of owner Parmalat. On Sunday, Parma won 3-1 at Reggina in the Serie A to move up to 15th.
"Our play and confidence are growing, we can make it to the semifinals," Parma coach Pietro Carmignani said. "Our first goal is to stay in the Serie A but I also dream of reaching the UEFA Cup final."
Austria should field top scorer Sigurd Rushfeldt despite his bruised shoulder.
Villarreal lies fourth in the Spanish league and players were confident of overcoming its deficit, despite the absence of ineligible top scorer Diego Forlan.
"I think the team has shown it can win at any stadium and there's nothing to stop us from doing so in Holland," Villarreal defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena said.
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