After producing a brave performance in the 3-1 aggregate defeat to Zenit in the Champions League third qualifying round, AEL Limassol will attempt to fare better when they battle Tottenham Hotspur for one place in the Europa League group stages.

Buoyed by the winning start to the Premier League campaign, Spurs arrive in Cyprus in confident mood, but difficult weather conditions are expected to give the hosts an extra hand.

Despite finishing the regular season at the top of the standings, AEL eventually missed out on the league title due to inferior head to head record to champions APOEL, but still qualified for the Champions League qualifying stages.

The squad have since undergone major changes as important players Edu Oriol, Jorge Monteiro, Andrija Kaludjerovic and few other left, but the club have ensured to sign decent replacements.

A number of new players arrived this summer, with many of them already nailing down a regular starting berth, but the team are obviously yet to hit the ground running.

AEL were unlucky to face star-studded Zenit side in the Champions League third qualifying round, but they somehow managed to win the first leg before losing the return match 3-0.

With the team now likely to face second string Tottenham side that will struggle to cope with heat and humidity in Cyprus, there may be some value in odds of 8.00 (7/1) offered on home win.

Important winger Danielzinho misses out through suspension, with summer signing Diego Barcelos expected to start in his place.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Fegrouch – Carlitos, Sielis, Cadu, Edmar – Zezinho, Nikolaou, Guidileye – Sardinero, Gikiewicz, Barcelos.

After reaching the Europa League Last 16 stage last term, Tottenham will want to improve on that result this season, but they first need to qualify for the group stages.

Spurs have been surprisingly quiet this summer, only recruiting Michel Vorm, Ben Davies and Eric Dier, and with quite a few players lacking match fitness after taking part at the World Cup, new boss Mauricio Pochettino had his work cut out for him.

Despite being far from their best, Tottenham managed to snatch all three points from the local derby against West Ham, with summer signing Eric Dier pouncing on Harry Kane’s assist to score the winner in the dying moments of the match.

The game against AEL will be a perfect opportunity for Pochettino to give playing time to some fringe players as well as introduce the likes of Vertonghen, Dembele and Paulinho into the side.

But, with away win paying mere 1.44 (4/9) at Coral, I doubt there is value in backing Spurs to continue the winning run.

A number of first team regulars should be rested in Limassol, with the likes of Townsend, Holtby, Soldado and Dawson pushing for starting places. Michel Vorm is ineligible, while Kyle Walker is out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Friedel – Naughton, Dawson, Veljkovic, Davies – Paulinho, Sandro – Townsend, Kane, Holtby – Soldado.