The former Vasco da Gama player revealed this week that he had watched Tottenham's thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 victory against West Ham in the Premiership on Sunday, and admitted to being impressed with the character shown by the London club.

He said: "Tottenham are well prepared, strong, quick and play a good tactical game."

Andrade, 25, also called on Braga's fans to put on a good show of support during the crucial first leg at the Estadio Municipal.

"Braga has a real possibility to progress," he continued.

"The supporters have already shown that they are on our side, that they have confidence in the team. The team now hopes to repay their support."

Braga, who progressed to the last-16 stage following a 2-0 aggregate win against Parma, last met Spurs in European competition back in the 1984/85 season, although fans of the Portuguese club would rather forget what happened on that occasion.

A 3-0 defeat at home was followed by a humiliating 6-0 drubbing at White Hart Lane, as Braga crashed out of that season's competition in the first round.

But the club currently fourth in the SuperLiga have come a long way in the intervening years since those humbling outings, and Andrade for one will not be taking any notice of past encounters when he takes to the field on Thursday.

He said: "That [result] is in the past, it is history."

"I won't look backwards because we want to start a new history."

Meanwhile, Braga coach Jorge Costa, who has been placed in charge of first team affairs until the end of the season following the dismissal of Rogerio Goncalves last month, has a near full squad to choose from for the visit of Martin Jol's troops.

Only defender Pedro Costa is an injury doubt, and has been training under the supervision of the club's medical team in the run-up to the match.

Jermaine Jenas did not travel with Tottenham to Portugal.

The England midfielder has a groin injury and is joins Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee), Mido (cyst on knee) and skipper Ledley King (feet) on the sidelines.

Robbie Keane is back after being suspended at the weekend while Steed Malbranque has recovered from a groin problem but Ricardo Rocha is cup-tied.

Defender Michael Dawson is raring to go, and willing to continue his gruelling season without a break if it means winning silverware.

The 23-year-old has featured in all but one of Spurs' games this season - he was suspended for a match in December - and will be at the heart of their defence on Thursday.

With an FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea on Sunday, Dawson believes he has a chance of winning his first trophy as a professional.

He did win silverware in the youth team at Nottingham Forest before breaking into the seniors to play alongside City Ground legend Des Walker.

"It was the equivalent of the youth-team Premier League," he said. "There weren't that many fans but it was a great feeling."

The centre-back is hoping to recapture the winning sensation with the young squad Jol has developed at White Hart Lane, with the Dutchman adopting the policy of buying British players for the spine of the side.

They finished fifth in the Premiership last season, famously missing out on Champions League qualification, but this season's focus has been on the cups.

"We've got a fantastic opportunity," said Dawson ahead of the clash at the Estadio Municipal de Braga, the unique ground used at Euro 2004 with a cliff at one end of the pitch.

"You dream about winning medals and that is what football is all about.

"As a player, to walk up and lift that trophy - what a feeling it must be. I've not personally done it at first-team level but I've had dreams and hopefully it will happen this season."