Scolari leads his side into the first last-eight clash on the newly-laid turf at Basle's St Jakob-Park all too aware that defeat would bring an inglorious end to his five-year tenure.

But the Brazilian, who will take over as Chelsea manager on July 1, does not believe his reign will end against the Germans.

"I don't expect it to be my last game," he said. "Everything we've done has been with one goal in mind.

"We have defined objectives. We even leave the hotel on the 25th so I hope we continue with what we planned since we left Portugal.

"I trust my team and I think we will advance from tomorrow's game, obviously while respecting Germany."

Scolari made eight changes for the final pool game against Switzerland, but revealed he would restore the line-up from the opening two games - wins over Turkey and Czech Republic - for the quarter-final.

"I'm not going to change anything," he said. "In principle, it's the same team."

Scolari reserved special praise for Germany captain Michael Ballack, whose career he will soon see at first hand at Stamford Bridge.

"Ballack is an important player, a great player," said Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning coach.

"He has a lot of technical qualities and is one of the great players in the tournament. Maybe he has hit peak form over the last two years.

"We have deep respect for Germany's qualities but we will play our game and try to beat them.

"Ballack is an excellent player, one of the athletes who has been a highlight of the tournament so far along with four or five others."

Scolari knows there is more to Germany than just Ballack, however.

"He deserves special attention, but we can't concern ourselves only with Ballack," said the 59-year-old.

"One of the best wing-backs in the tournament is (Philipp) Lahm. I have to worry about the whole German team.

"Germany are growing. They had not such a good game in their second match (defeat to Croatia) but improved in the third and are in good condition to face us tomorrow."

Scolari also had words of praise for Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Manchester United man's winning mentality was good for his squad.

"He's a simple, humble person," said Scolari of the 23-year-old.

"He works as part of a group and is a good member of the group.

"He is dedicated to the group and has a strong will to win which I haven't seen in anybody else. That means the others soak in that will to win, and obviously lot of technical quality."

The Portugal coach would not be surprised to see injury doubts Lukas Podolski (calf) and Torsten Frings (rib) take to the field tomorrow.

"I believe those in charge of the Germany team, especially the medical team, will be doing their utmost to get the players ready as this game will be decisive," he said.

"With all those medical efforts they may end up on the pitch. I don't know if it's a bluff (Podolski's injury), I don't think so.

"As regards the midfielder (Frings) I talked to (Portugal's Stuttgart defender) Fernando Meira, who says if he doesn't play then another will play who he knows very well and in his opinion is better than the one who can't play.

"Everybody is good in the Germany squad so nobody will be missed."

Scolari does not believe his team will garner a substantial advantage from being more rested than the Germans given they have played each match a day before their opponents and rested eight players last time out.

"We didn't rest for a week," said the coach. "The players didn't play a game but they had physical and technical work which was more intense than for those that played.

"The only thing that didn't happen was the psychological aspect of playing against Switzerland.

"And we got this luck of the draw that we would play a day before (Germany), so we have 24 hours' advantage. But they have great powers of recovery, and we have always emphasised that."

Tomorrow's winners will progress to a semi-final against either Croatia or Turkey - also in Basle - next Wednesday.