Spurs were yesterday handed the easiest possible route to the competition proper when they drew Young Boys in the play-off round.

Harry Redknapp's men will face the Swiss side in a two-leg tie starting in Berne a week on Tuesday and England defender Dawson is desperate to progress.

"It means everything," he told Spurs TV Online.

"We're two games away from the group stages and that's what it's all about now.

"Two massive games against Young Boys and it's exciting times. But we've got to make sure we win and get into the group stages."

The tie was a dream pairing for Spurs, who avoided much trickier clashes with the likes of Dynamo Kiev, Sampdoria, Auxerre and Braga.

But Swiss runners-up Young Boys are not to be taken lightly, having stunned Fenerbahce in the previous round.

"They finished second last year, and they beat Fenerbahce to get through to the next stage to meet us," Dawson said.

"So we know it's going to be a tough game but we're excited.

"Away leg first and that's all we can ask for.

"Hopefully get a good result over there and bring them back to White Hart Lane and have an even better result at home."

Dawson's manager refused to get carried away with the draw.

Redknapp told his club's website, tottenhamhotspur.com: "We'll be favourites, obviously, but we have to give them the utmost respect.

"They beat Fenerbahce in the last round and we watched the first leg on DVD and they could have won four or five; they hammered them at home. They then went away and won in Turkey and that's a fantastic result.

"There are no easy games at this level. They also have an Astroturf pitch at their stadium and they play well on it, so it will be a tough game for us.

"We'll have to be prepared for it but we've Manchester City before that in the Premier League and that's the first priority.

"We'll get that one out of the way and then it will be into the Champions League and we've got to try and get into the group stages; that would be fantastic for the club."

Tottenham's last foray in Europe's premier club competition came in the 1961-62 season.

Last term saw them finally fulfil their ambition of breaking into the Barclays Premier League top four, thereby securing a coveted Champions League spot.

Spurs have never played Swiss runners-up Young Boys, who are well into their domestic season, which kicked off on July 17, although they have failed to win any of their opening three games.

Their squad includes an Enfield-born Spurs fan in Scott Sutter, who moved to Switzerland aged 16.

Tottenham's only previous European meeting with Swiss opposition ended in a 9-1 aggregate win over Grasshoppers in the 1973-74 UEFA Cup.

Meanwhile, John Bostock last night completed his season-long loan move to Hull after signing a contract extension with Spurs until 2013.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who became Spurs' youngest ever player when he made his debut two years ago, has been unable to hold down a place in the first-team squad.