DEPLETED LEEDS FACE 1860 TEST

The Elland Road outfit reached the semi-finals of last season's Uefa Cup before being beaten by eventual winners Galatasaray.

However, manager David O'Leary feels that it will be a different story this year, admitting: "This is the ultimate competition for any team and manager and will be very tough. I have eleven players to choose from, so my job is made easy.

"Our plans have been disrupted for this game and it's a bad time for this to happen. It hasn't been an enjoyable pre-season and now we face what is a tough draw against Munich.

"It's the third-placed English team from last season against the fourth in the German League, and that could easily be a UEFA Cup quarter-final. They are big, strong and well organised and will be hard to beat but I would love to get into the Champions League because it would be a great education for my players."

O'Leary revealed that David Batty, who has only played 20 minutes of football since last November, could miss the whole season through his long-term Achilles tendon injury, and he is joined by five other Whites on the treatment table.

Jason Wilcox and Jonathon Woodgate both miss out with knee injuries, Harry Kewell is also having Achilles trouble, Stephen McPhail has a hamstring injury and Matthew Jones is suffering from shin splints, an injury list which has left the squad down to almost the bare bones of the main squad.

The summer signings of Olivier Dacourt (pictured) and Mark Viduka - who is only 70% fit himself - will make their competitive debuts for Leeds, while youngster Gareth Evans is set to step into the left side on midfield for his senior bow.

Leeds' England international goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was happy with the progress made by Dacourt - who is settling into Batty's midfield role with aplomb - since his arrival, but feels that this game has come too early for the side.

"Oli has done tremendously well for us," said Martyn. "He has a great engine, a great appetite and he likes a tackle and to get stuck in. But he's a winner and we need people like that.

"We've had our fair share of injuries pre-season. If we had a full side then I feel we would be okay for this game but we have just got to get on with it.

"It's too early to be playing this kind of competitive match. A clean sheet is really important, and we've defenders who are capable of doing that. We are also a threat up front because we are capable of scoring from anywhere."

1860, though, have injury problems of their own for the tie, with first choice goalkeeper Daniel Hoffman out with a thigh injury and Erik Mykland not fully fit, but expected to play through an Achilles problem.

Despite the problems, coach Werner Lorant admits that he is not coming to Elland Road to sit back and defend.

"I don't want to play defensively," he said. "We don't like to see players hurt, we have a strong squad but the team is important, not the individual.

"We want to score goals but I expect a lot of pressure from Leeds. They are strong opponents but the type of team we have to beat. I respect but don't fear them.

"There will be a good atmosphere, there always is when German sides play English sides. We will try and make the atmosphere even better and hope we can reproduce our form of last season.

"Leeds are a very good team and I am familiar with what they have achieved. I have seen them play and I am very pleased that the draw has paired us both together.

"All their players are strong but we don't fear any of them. You have got to respect your opponents, of course, but there isn't a player we are afraid of and if we do progress then I can see us doing quite well in the competition."

Mykland, who has been given the defensive midfield role, admitted that he will make his 1860 debut at Elland Road, but does not expect to be able to play in the opening Bundesliga fixture on Saturday.

"I will play," he said. "I fear that my Achilles will be so sore afterwards that I will have trouble making Saturday's game. I am fit for the fight, the problem is recovery time.

"It's my first competitive game for my new club. It is a bit special. I enjoy playing the role, but as long as I don't have to play full back it's okay."

Leeds United (from): Martyn, Robinson, Kelly, Radebe, Duberry, Harte, Mills, Dacourt, Bakke, Bowyer, Evans, Smith, Bridges, Huckerby, Viduka, Molenaar, McMaster.

TSV 1860 Munich (from): Jentzsch, Greilich, Ehlens, Pfuderer, Zelic, Schroth, Kurz, Hassler, Mykland, Sorensen, Prosenik, Cerny, Agostino, Max, Markus, Hofman, Cizek, Borimirov.