CSKA Moscow is ready to face Sevilla in the Champions League despite being out of season in the Russian league.
CSKA has not played a competitive game since it beat Turkey's Besiktas in the group phase on Dec. 8 to reach the knockout stage of Europe's premier competition.
"I'm sure there will be no problems with the physical condition of the players and the tactical readiness of the team," coach Leonid Slutsky said on Tuesday, a day before hosting Sevilla. "But only a competitive game can give an answer about CSKA's current form."
Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev regards the match as a key one for the team. "We will have no other chance _ it's a knockout round of the Champions League," he said. "We must be like a single unit if we want to achieve something."
The Spanish club was into the knockout stage for the second time and was coming off a 3-1 victory at Real Mallorca in its domestic league last weekend.
"We played a good game and we're winning back that intensity we had before," coach Manolo Jimenez said. "We need to play the same way each game. There's a lot at stake on Wednesday and my only fear is that there could be a drop (in intensity)."
Sevilla will be without striker Luis Fabiano, who had two goals in the group stage, and winger Diego Capel. The pair did not even travel with the team due to injury problems.
However, Akinfeev was sure the visitors will still provide tough opposition.
"Fabiano's absence won't be a tragedy for Sevilla," he said. "They have enough highly skilled players to cover for him."
Slutsky added that Sevilla had a very strong attacking lineup.
"Jesus Navas, Diego Perotti, Frederic Kanoute and Alvaro Negredo are very skillful players," he said. "They are very strong individually and in combining with each other."
Striker Negredo was almost certain to start since he faces only a domestic ban, while Kanoute should also feature.
CSKA has a doubt over attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev after a groin injury and will instead rely on new signing Keisuke Honda, who has arrived from Dutch side VVV Venlo.
Midfielder Honda, who signed a four-year contract with CSKA in January, scored nine times in 32 matches in the Dutch league and has three goals in nine appearances for Japan.
"He (Honda) will be a starter tomorrow as an attacking central midfielder," said Slutsky, who has already decided his starting lineup.
It will be Honda's debut in the Champions league.
Both Slutsky and Akinfeev said Luzhniki Stadium's artificial pitch and the cold weather will not give CSKA an advantage.
"We did not prepare for the match in subzero temperatures," Akinfeev said. "More over, it won't be as cold tomorrow. The temperatures are expected about zero Celsius."
Sevilla has a record of won four, drawn two and lost two against Russian clubs, while CSKA has won two and drawn one against Spanish opposition.
The return leg is scheduled for March 16.
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