Leeds United (1) v Hapoel Tel Aviv (0): Leeds, severely depleted but far from daunted, arrived in Italy without England full-back Danny Mills yesterday, though he and they have been quick to deny rumours his absence was because of a dressing-room spat.
There had been allegations Mills clashed with a team-mate after last week's 2-1 English League Cup defeat to Sheffield United. In fact, the 25-year-old, who also missed Sunday's Premiership win at West Ham, has been allowed to spend time with his family after tragic complications with his wife, Lisa's, pregnancy.
"Stories that he has been in conflict with his team-mates are not helpful at the moment," said Mills' adviser, Neil Featherby. "Such rumours have absolutely no substance and all Danny requests is the media give him some privacy, like any decent person would expect, at this time."
All the same, Leeds may regret Mills' absence against the under-rated Israelis. Terry Venables' side are without eight senior players - Mark Viduka has just become a father for the first time and has remained behind, and Jonathan Woodgate has a groin injury - leaving a youthful squad of 18.
Even Michael Duberry, Elland Road's forgotten man, is likely to play at Florence's Artemio Franchi stadium; the game has been switched from Israel for security reasons.
Leeds defend a 1-0 lead earned by Harry Kewell in the first leg.
"I can sense a real determination in the squad now and a confidence that was maybe lacking," said Republic of Ireland full-back Ian Harte. "I haven't noticed there being any extra pressure on the lads, but I hope that game acted as a watershed in our season.
"At least there is less travelling involved by coming to Italy and I doubt the crowd will be as hostile, so we have to use that to our advantage."
With Hapoel the hosts, hopes of luring great numbers of fans may prove optimistic, leaving the Israelis, UEFA Cup quarter-finalists last season, grumbling about unfair treatment.
"We have been shut out of our home," said the Hapoel president Moshe Teumim. "This is definitely not fair play. It also hurts our finances. We would expect to make $250,000 each round but instead we are losing that amount. The UEFA Cup has become an exercise in losing money."
For Venables' sake, Leeds must put them out of their misery.
HAPOEL TEL AVIV (4-4-2, probable): Eimelech; Halis, Gershon, Domb, Antebi; Toama, Halmai, Abuksis, Afek; Welton, Balili.
LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2, probable): Robinson; Kelly, Radebe, Duberry, Harte; Barmby, Bowyer, Bakke, Wilcox; Smith, Kewell.
Referee: F Stuchlik (Austria).
