A 'lively' encounter is being predicted with the visiting coach refusing to let a host of injuries dampen his optimism ahead of the match.

Ernesto Valverde said: "We respect Galatasaray, who are deservedly Turkish champions. "We want to start the group stage with a win.

"We have many players missing but we can't use this as an excuse. We have good players capable of coming in to do a job in every position.

"We want a positive result, and for us that would be a victory. At the end of the match we will see if a draw is a good enough result or not."

Galatasaray are not without injury concerns of their own after it was revealed this week that influential midfielder Hasan Sas is set to be sidelined until 2009 after undergoing surgery for a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee.

The two clubs have met before having been drawn together in the group stage of the 2003/04 Champions League. Galatasaray won 1-0 in Istanbul before Olympiacos triumphed 3-0 in the corresponding game in Greece.

Kewell, who has returned to the side after injury, was on target in Galatasaray's previous UEFA Cup run out, netting in a first leg 4-3 victory over Bellinzona.