Almost a year to the date Malta astounded the world of football by holding Turkey to a two-all draw in a Euro 2008 qualifier at the National Stadium.

A repeat of that heart-on-sleeve performance is what Malta will be looking to produce this evening when they begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with a daunting match against heavyweights Portugal.

The prospect of locking horns with a Portugal team brimming with some of the world's most talented footballers is bound to intimidate any opposition, never mind tiny Malta.

The likelihood is that the Portuguese will prove too strong for Malta as they look to give Carlos Queiroz his first competitive win in his second spell as Portugal coach. Queiroz returned to his old job after Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Portugal to the Euro 2008 quarter-finals, resigned to take charge of Chelsea.

Going into an international game as underdogs is not a novelty for the Maltese players who, on a few occasions in recent past, succeeded in frustrating opponents in important qualifiers.

National coach Dusan Fitzel hopes that his players will be up to the task but knows that Malta will have their work cut out by the likes of Deco, Nani and Simao.

Having dissected Portugal's showing in the 5-0 defeat of the Faroe Islands in a friendly last month, Fitzel doesn't envisage a change in tactics by Queiroz.

"Portugal teams, from the youths right through to the seniors, play 4-3-3 because it's a strategy that brings the best out of their skilful players," Fitzel told The Times yesterday.

"They stuck with 4-3-3 against Faroe Islands and I don't think they will change their approach for this game."

In last month's friendly against Estonia, which Malta lost 2-1, Fitzel experimented with a few tactical variations but he has no intention to tinker with his gameplan for tonight's qualifier which is expected to draw a bumper crowd to the National Stadium.

"The 4-2-3-1 strategy is best suited for the characteristics of our team, I haven't changed my mind about that," Fitzel said.

"I think the players are now familiar with this system, they know what is expected of them. In training, we have done a lot of tactical work to try and counter Portugal's rotation on the flanks and their movement in the middle but they've got enormous quality."

Portugal are blessed with an abundance of brilliant players and Queiroz will be able to count on such stars as Deco, now at Chelsea, Nani, the Manchester United winger, Atletico Madrid's Simao and Moutinho, the Sporting Lisbon midfielder.

Deco threat

Fitzel was at pains to single out the one player he thinks will pose the greatest threat but after a thoughtful pause, he replied:

"There are four or five fantastic players in the Portuguese team but Deco is outstanding. He's their main man in midfield, an attack-minded and creative player.

"Then there's Nani and I've also been impressed with the performance of Almeida in the friendly against Faroe Islands. He gave the defenders a hard time."

Such a collection of top-class players at Queiroz's disposal and yet, the greatest entertainer of them all, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, is missing as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery.

Given Ronaldo's individual magnificence, his absence will come as a relief for the Maltese but Fitzel offered a different perspective.

"Ronaldo and Nani both play for Manchester United and their qualities are very similar," Fitzel said.

"Ronaldo is coming from a great season but I think Nani is more than an adequate replacement for him.

"Nevertheless, as a coach, I want to see the best players on the pitch because that poses a greater challenge for the players and also excites the fans."

Typically, Fitzel gave nothing away about his team selection but the indications from training are that the Malta coach may well opt for Terrence Scerri as Andrè Schembri's replacement. The lanky striker has been on fire for Hibs, scoring three goals in their opening two league games.

Schembri, now at German club Carl Zeiss Jena, is ruled out by a one-match ban but is with the rest of the squad as he will be available to play in Wednesday's qualifier away to Albania.

The one certainty is that Fitzel will keep faith with his tried-and-trusted players, the likes of Michael Mifsud, who will lead Malta's attack, midfielders Gilbert Agius and Jamie Pace, and central defenders Brian Said and Luke Dimech. Goalkeeper Justin Haber will guard Malta's goal today.

The other positions were up for grabs until yesterday evening's training session, especially the left-back role after Ian Azzopardi withdrew from the squad to spend time with his father who is seriously ill.

Shaun Bajada and Steve Wellman are vying for patrolling duties on the left side of Malta's four-man defence and Roderick Briffa looks favourite to assume the right-back role.

Three players, George Mallia, Kevin Sammut and Ivan Woods, are the main contenders for the two wide midfield positions.

Fitzel reckons Mifsud, Malta's most famous player, remains the team's chief attacking weapon.

"Even when he's not at the top of his form, Michael is still our most dangerous player," Fitzel remarked.

"If you look at his performances in the past, Michael has always been at the centre of our attacking moves, he's always involved and all our opponents know about him."

The closure of the summer transfer window has brought to an end the uncertainty surrounding Mifsud's position at Coventry City, at least for the next four months, after his £1.5 million move to Bristol City collapsed at the last minute.

Said Fitzel: "Transfer issues affect players but now that the transfer window is closed, Michael knows that he is still a Coventry player. He's been playing regularly lately and things look to have settled down."