Final chance for Intertoto hopefuls

Depor ahead
Deportivo defeated Newcastle 2-1 last Wednesday in Spain, but the English side, who produced good UEFA Cup runs in the last two seasons, will feel well capable of turning the tie at St James' Park, and matching their 2001 run to the Intertoto Cup final.

Parker return
They welcome back midfielder Jermaine Jenas and forward Shola Ameobi from injury, along with new signings Emre Belözoglu and Scott Parker. However, defender Céléstine Babayaro is out with a thigh strain. Parker, who could make his debut having broken his foot late in his time with Chelsea FC, said: "I've not had a game for six months so I'm raring to go. Deportivo come here with a 2-1 lead but, with our crowd behind us, hopefully we can make it tough for them."

Luque out
Albert Luque and Juan Carlos Valerón will start on the bench for Deportivo, with Pedro Munitis moving to the left and Lionel Scaloni returning to man the right wing in place of Víctor Sánchez. Diego Tristán and Rubén Castro will again start up front.

Close encounter
Awaiting the winners of that tie next week will be either Lazio or Marseille, Abdoulaye Méïté's equaliser having given the French team a 1-1 first-leg draw in Rome. Marseille then lost their Ligue 1 opener 2-0 at home to FC Girondins de Bordeaux on Friday, while Lazio hope to welcome back defender Matias Emanuel Lequi and forward Tommaso Rocchi from a twisted ankle and knee injury respectively. New signing Valon Behrami is not yet fully match-sharp.

Scoreless tie
France's other representatives, RC Lens, welcome 2003 finalists Wolfsburg with the tie at 0-0. Wolfsburg's Peter van der Heyden could return after an ankle injury but new signing Levan Tskitishvili was not registered in time. Lens, who lost 2-0 at FC Nantes Atlantique on Saturday, conceding twice in the first eight minutes, are at full strength.

Cluj lead
Romania's CFR Cluj are favourites to take on Lens or Wolfsburg, as they lead FK Žalgiris Vilnius 2-1 thanks to victory in Lithuania last week. Both these teams have already produced their nations' respective best runs in this competition.

Hamburg chance
Hamburg, who like Marseille have the useful past experience of being European champions, won 1-0 at Czech team and fellow former Intertoto finalists SK Sigma Olomouc. However, Hamburg could be without midfield anchorman Khalid Boulahrouz with a groin injury. Sigma did well to knock out another German team with a proud European record, BV Borussia Dortmund, in the third round, but will need better than the 1-1 away result they produced in that tie.

Valencia changes
Whoever comes through will play Valencia CF or Roda JC, with the Spanish side travelling to the Netherlands 4-0 up. Injured Valencia trio Santiago Cañizares (muscular problems), David Albelda (bruised right foot) and Vicente Rodríguez (sprained ankle), plus the ill Rubén Baraja have stayed at home, with Juan Luis Mora tipped to start in goal and Ludovic Butelle as his understudy, and José Enrique and Amedeo Carboni also called up.