Russian champions Zenit hope to pour more misery on last year’s Champions League finalists and finally get past the first knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Borussia will have some catching up to do following weekend’s embarrassing defeat to Hamburg, but they, nonetheless, remain the favourites to go through.

While heavy investment in the playing squad did help Zenit establish domestic domination, Luciano Spalletti’s side have largely struggled to prove their worth in Europe.

For the second time in a row, the Russian giants have progressed past the group stage, but having crashed out to Benfica in the first knockout phase, they will be looking to fare better this term.

That will be no easy task with very good Borussia Dortmund on the other side, especially since Zenit have yet to resume their league campaign following a winter break.

Nonetheless, the hosts are hoping the cold weather in Russia will give them the upper hand, even if online bookmakers do not seem to agree.

Zenit are priced at 4.50 (7/2) with 888sport to win the first leg and end a three-match winless run in European matches at home.

Important players Danny and Cristian Ansaldi have been ruled out through injury, but there are no other worries for boss Spalletti.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Lodygin – Smolnikov, Hubocan, Lombaerts, Criscito – Witsel, Zyryanov – Faizulin, Arshavin, Hulk – Kerzhakov.

Borussia Dortmund did well to qualify from the Champions League group of death, but the Millionaires have been unable to keep up with Bayern Munich in Bundesliga.

Even team’s top 4 place is in danger following the weekend’s 3-0 defeat to sorry Hamburg, but Jurgen Klopp will be hoping the poor showing at Imtech Arena would prove to be just a one-off result.

Borussia now face a very important match in St Petersburg and they do not seem to have plenty of reason for optimism at the moment.

According to the latest reports, Jurgen Klopp currently has too many injured players to count, meaning odds of 1.85 (17/20) offered on away win do not look too tempting.

Sven Bender has been ruled out for ten weeks with an inflamed pubic bone, whereas Jakub Blaszczykowski, Neven Subotic and Ilkay Gundogan remain long-term casualties.

Klopp also has doubts over the fitness of Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, which only adds to the worries.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Friedrich, Papastathopoulos, Schmelzer – Kehl, Sahin – Grosskreutz, Mkhitaryan, Reus – Lewandowski.