Arsene Wenger insisted that Arsenal would produce another `backs-to-the-wall' display to revitalise their Champions League hopes tomorrow despite a debilitating injury crisis.
Wenger will have to cope without Patrick Vieira, Fredrik Ljungberg, Sol Campbell and Dennis Bergkamp as Arsenal search for what would be only their second victory in 11 Champions League ties.
However, he insists that he has no regrets at having sent seven players, including internationals Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Francis Jeffers out on loan to cut the wage bill and give them further experience.
Wenger is nevertheless still hoping that Martin Keown and Ashley Cole will shake off shin and knee injuries respectively to make the line-up as he admits Arsenal must achieve at least a draw away to Lokomotiv Moscow, having lost their opening group game 3-0 to Inter Milan.
After all, Pascal Cygan is on standby and such is the scale of Arsenal's problems that youngsters Justin Hoyte, David Bentley, Stathis Tavlaridis and Jeremie Aliadiere have all made the trip as cover.
Wenger declared: "We have to make things right after our disastrous start against Inter Milan and we must get something out of this game.
"I've seen my players with their backs to the wall a few times in the past and they have always responded well. There will be another response in this game.
"We can rely on the fact that, since the beginning of the season, our only disastrous game was really against Inter. So the confidence should still be there."
Campbell has been absent from full training following the death of his father and is understood to be targeting this weekend's game at Liverpool for his comeback.
"Sol is back in full training but is still a bit short physically and of course still a bit down too," explained Wenger.
"I think Ashley and Martin will be playing, but Patrick and Freddie are both out. Everybody who has trained with the first team and is fit is therefore travelling."
While Bergkamp is unwilling to fly, Robert Pires and Edu look set to come into midfield, with Wenger having set his team a target of three wins from their five remaining ties to qualify.
"I still think that nine or 10 points will qualify you. Winning our two home games and getting some points out of our next two away games makes that feasible," he said.
But Wenger still does not have great strength in depth, especially with so many key players absent.
Indeed, he would consider recalling Jermaine Pennant or Moritz Volz from loan spells at Leeds and Fulham respectively if any further injuries are sustained.
Other players, including not only internationals van Bronckhorst and Jeffers, as well as Igors Stepanovs, Liam Chilvers and Sebastian Svard, are meanwhile either out on loan for the season or playing abroad.
Wenger, who ruled out a move for Rivaldo, declared: "If we have some more injured players, I would be tempted to recall one or two of them.