With Russia having failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Hiddink acknowledges many of his players are lacking experience on the biggest stage, but the veteran Dutchman is hoping that will not affect the way they perform against the Spanish.

Spain are undoubtedly favourites for the match, as they are for the whole tournament in many quarters, but at the very least Hiddink wants to see his team give Luis Aragones' side a run for their money in Innsbruck - and also by playing the right way.

"If we all play football, if we try to give Spain a hard time, I will be happy," said Hiddink.

"I don't want to see a team that is afraid to play, as was the case in past tournaments. We've done our best, we've trained well, and we're here to give Spain a good fight.

"The Spanish team is a very powerful team indeed, a lot of my players are coming up to their first major tournament, others have played in major tournaments, but relatively few of them have.

"So of course they are lacking experience in major tournaments, with all the pressure that that entails, so I'm looking forward to seeing a Russian team doing it's best to play football, and that's important."

The Spain v Russia match will be the first game in Group D but the seventh to take place at Euro 2008.

Most of the results so far in Austria and Switzerland have largely gone as expected, but Hiddink is hoping his side can buck that trend against the Spanish.

"We hope that we can break a little bit the rhythm of the previous games that have been played in these Euros, because more or less the favourites have won their first game," said Hiddink.

"Tomorrow we have the confrontation with Spain and I've said it many times that they are the favourites. So we hope to break the 'racha' (good run), as they say in Spain, of the win of the favourites."

Hiddink, whose lengthy coaching career has included spells in charge of Spanish sides Valencia, Real Madrid and Real Betis, has reported a fully fit side for the match and he is now eager for his side's challenge to begin.

"It's been a long preperation, a good preparation. I'm satisfied with the attitude of the team, they have worked hard in the last two to three weeks and now we are anxious for the kick-off tomorrow," the 61-year-old said.

Hiddink's concerns about his side's inexperience on the international stage could on the other hand also prove a benefit for the Russians, with the element of surprise on their side.

Although the Russian squad includes five of the Zenit St Petersburg squad that won the UEFA Cup last month, Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas concedes their opponents are not that well known at a European level.

However, the Real Madrid custodian is still anticipating a tough test.

"Of course we've looked at the team, we've seen they have fast players, especially up front and their tactical level is very good as well, so I don't think it is going to be easy for us."

Casillas also has uncomfortable memories of playing against Hiddink teams in the past, namely in the 2002 World Cup when the Dutchman guided South Korea to a shock penalty shoot-out win over the Spanish in the quarter-finals.

Casillas, who was in goal for that match, said: "Also their coach knows us well, knows how we play, and that could be an advantage for them. They will be waiting for us and give us a good run for our money.

"He made us suffer with South Korea. It true that we have a certain respect for Hiddink's teams, who always fight. We respect them and they seem dangerous."

ends