Ibrahimovic was sidelined for Saturday's league game at Reggina due to a throat infection.

However, the Nerazzurri managed to overcome his absence with Adriano's strike giving the Serie A leaders a 1-0 triumph.

"We struggled but we have taken home three very important points," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini.

"The Granillo Stadium is a difficult pitch and this was a tricky game for us and although we failed to kill the game off, we succeeded in taking three points."

The outcome saw Inter maintain a three-point advantage over Scudetto contenders Juventus after eight games.

Inter will be hoping their positive run continues when they travel to Russia.

"Unlike the domestic league, the Champions League is played every 15 days and you need to be ready," said Mancini.

Having lost their opening game at Fenerbahce, the Italians will be hoping to pick up where they left off in their 2-0 triumph over PSV Eindhoven earlier this month.

Two goals from Ibrahimovic that night allowed Inter to get their European dreams back on track.

Inter are second in their group, level on three points with PSV Eindhoven, and just one point behind leaders Fenerbahce.

CSKA Moscow are bottom of the group having taken just one point from the opening two games.

The Nerazzurri will be without defenders Nicolas Burdisso and Christian Chivu as well as striker David Suazo, who are all suspended.

However, defender Ivan Cordoba and striker Julio Cruz will be available after serving bans.

The encounter at the Dynamo Stadium will hold a special significance for Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo who is set to make his 100th Champions League appearance on Tuesday.

CSKA, hoping to improve on two successive third-place finishes in the group stage, have only met two Italian sides in European competition and in three matches at home they have tasted victory once.

That came in the 2004-05 UEFA Cup semi-final, when goals from Daniel Carvalho (two) and Vasili Berezutski earned a 3-0 win over Parma in the second leg, taking them into the final and what would prove Russia's first UEFA club competition trophy.

Coach Valeri Gazzaev is likely to restore Vagner Love to the starting line-up after he was rested from the team that won 1-0 away at Tomsk - that was CSKA'S first win outside Moscow in 2007 in any competition.

The highly-rated Veniamin Mandrykin is expected to continue in goal for long-term absentee Igor Akinfeev.

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Gazzaev indicated he would put his faith in Carvalho, saying: "Carvalho didn't play badly at all for 60-70 minutes in Tomsk. And I think he can play even better."

He continued: "The rest of the squad are in good spirits. Not counting [Chidi] Odiah and Akinfeev, I think this is the first time this season I have had all 20 first team players fit.

"I'm hoping that our players can build maximum strength to achieve success. We don't have any problems."

Gazzaev acknowledged the threat posed by Inter but insisted his side were out for three points.

"Inter have been the leaders in Italian football over the last three years," he said.

"They are the complete side. Like all our opponents, we respect them. But we have our own tasks in hand, and that main task in this match is to win."