Only three English clubs are in Uefa Cup action this week and all face tough fixtures as the group stage enters its first round of fixtures.
While Manchester City enjoy a Thursday night off, the other Premier League representatives will find no time to relax.
Aston Villa (4/6) face arguably their toughest test in Group F as four-time European Cup winners Ajax (10/3) come to town.
While the Dutch giants currently lie tenth in Holland’s Eredivisie, they have plenty of players that can cause Martin O’Neill’s side problems.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is a Dutch international with an impressive 71 goals in 85 games for the club – he is 8/1 to silence Villa Park with the opener.
Villa seem due a goal glut, after their early-season scoring rate has slowed with just one goal in their last three matches.
The power-and-pace partnership of man mountain John Carew and whippet-quick Gabby Agbonlahor has already accounted for ten goals this season in all competitions – the pair are both priced at 9/2 to break the deadlock for the Midlanders.
While Villa can enjoy some home comforts, beleaguered Tottenham Hotspur (11/5) face a trip to high-flying Italian side Udinese (evens).
Spurs are still rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after a nightmare start to the season which has failed to produce a league win.
In contrast, Udinese are just two points behind leaders Inter Milan at the top of Serie A and are unbeaten at home in the league.
However, a diversion from the misery of their domestic campaign could be what the north London outfit needs and first choice striker Darren Bent is 6/1 to fire Spurs ahead in the absence of Cup-tied Roman Pavyluchenko.
Spurs, who narrowly saw off Wisla Krakow in the first round, are 11/5 to come away with a point.
Meanwhile, European rookies Portsmouth (7/5) travel to Portugal again to face Sporting Braga (6/4), having disposed of Guimares in the last stage of the competition.
Little-and-large strike force Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch have scored all but two of Pompey’s goal in all competitions this season – Defoe is 11/2 to open the scoring while Crouch, who bagged a brace last time out in Portugal, is priced at 8/1.
Should Harry Redknapp decide to save his frontline pair for Sunday’s league fixture with Fulham, Nwankwo Kanu could be a good shout to make his first of the season the opening goal.
The south coast outfit, who could br without the injured midfield duo with Lassana Diarra and Richard Hughes, should be weary of Brazilian centre forward Jorginho – the ex-Porto frontman could partner Cameroon international Albert Meyong Ze up front and the two are both 7/1 to score first.
Will Spurs surprise in-form Udinese?