Los Rojiblancos will be looking to build a healthy advantage at the Vicente Calderon in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.

But coach Gregorio Manzano is resigned to having to do so without Aguero, who underwent a medical in Manchester today, and has urged his other players to put the issue to one side.

Manzano told Spanish radio station Cope last night: "It seems as though in the coming hours we will have a final outcome to the issue that has has occupied us for so long.

"It is already in its final stretch, I've asked the players to focus on Thursday's game. Unfortunately we won't be able to call on Kun (Aguero)."

Midfielder Gabi, who returned to the club this summer after four years with Real Zaragoza, added on www.clubatleticodemadrid.com: "The objective is to win on Thursday against Stromsgodset with a good lead for the second leg.

"We have to control the tie at the Calderon. We know that the Norwegian team has a very high physical presence and a very powerful strategy. We do not want to rough it and, if we can resolve the tie on Thursday, it will be much better."

Elsewhere, Mainz general manager Christian Heidel accepts his team will be expected to beat Romanian outfit Gaz Metan, but is not taking anything for granted.

"Of course we are favourites," Heidel told www.kicker.de. "[But] we must accept that it will be a very tight game, and adjust to the atmosphere in the stadium."

He added: "Playing at European level is not something we are used to every day. This is something special. It's great to represent Germany internationally."

AZ Alkmaar will be without Hector Moreno and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson against Czech opponents Jablonec at the AFAS Stadion, but captain Niklas Moisander is confident the Dutch side will put up a good show.

"We still have an experienced team," he told De Telegraaf. "We're ready.

"It was moderate last season, when we got to the group stage. Now we go as a team. I definitely think we will do better."

AZ's Eredivisie rivals ADO Den Haag will also be in action tomorrow night when they visit Cyprus to take on Omonia Nicosia.

The two Barclays Premier League teams in action, Fulham and Stoke, both face Croatian opposition in the third qualifying round.

Martin Jol's Fulham visit RNK Split while the Potters welcome Hajduk Split to the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is weighing up whether to give injury-plagued former England defender Jonathan Woodgate his competitive debut after the 31-year-old joined on a pay-as-you-play deal this summer.

Palermo new boy Eran Zahavi cannot wait to start proving his worth to the Italian side following his summer switch from Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Speaking to Sky Italia ahead of tomorrow's visit of Swiss team FC Thun, the Israel midfielder said: "It will be a very important game. We must try to win in order to give ourselves the utmost serenity for the return match in Switzerland.

"I'm very happy when people stop me on the street and say I am a great player, but I have to prove that on the field."

Also tomorrow, French outfit Rennes visit Georgia to take on Olimpi Rustavi while, in selected other games, AEK Athens face Mlada Boleslav, Sparta Prague tackle FK Sarajevo and Young Boys play Westerlo.