STEVE McCLAREN insists Middlesbrough's progress in the UEFA Cup may have shocked Europe but their achievements have come as no surprise to the club.

Boro end their Group E fixtures against Partizan Belgrade tonight knowing three points will guarantee top spot and an easier tie in the third round.

Failure to beat the Serbia & Montenegro side is likely to mean a date with one of the Champions League losers.

Shakhtar Donetsk, CSKA Moscow, Panathinaikos, Valencia, Dinamo Kiev, Ajax, Fenerbahce and Olympiakos will all be in Friday's draw and McClaren is keen to avoid them by finishing top of the group.

The Middlesbrough boss, who is expected to make a couple of changes for tonight's game at the Riverside Stadium, believes the continent have suddenly become more aware of the threat coming from the North-East, and he doesn't mean Newcastle.

The Magpies, who are also looking to qualify as the top team in their group by defeating Sporting Lisbon at St James' Park tomorrow, reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup last season.

Now McClaren believes Middlesbrough have a strong chance of repeating that achievement, although he is taking nothing for granted.

"The Italian papers were raving about Middlesbrough after we played Lazio. We are well known in Italy now and we want that to be the case in every country," said McClaren.

"We have grown in this competition as we have gone along so the last 32 is not a bonus to us. We believe we have every right to be there and every right to continue in it.

"Ourselves and Newcastle are two very good teams. Newcastle did well last season and either one of us would take a semi-final place again. We have surprised Europe but not ourselves.

"I fully expected, with the signings we brought in, to do well because Europe was very important to the players in this team. These European nights are different, they are special. It's a fantastic learning curve for the players, young and old.

"If it's a glamour team we get in the next round then great because we have still got to beat them.

"But it would be nice to get as far as we can. It's good for the North-East and the whole area that we have two sides in there."

Partizan are a much-changed side to the one that former Germany skipper Lothar Matthaus led to victory over Newcastle in a Champions League qualifier in August last year.

Matthaus has now departed to take over the Hungarian national team and his successor at FK Partizan, Vladimir Vermezovic, has steered the club to an incredible 25 matches unbeaten.

McClaren has made his players watch videos of Partizan in action and scout Don Mackay has twice been sent to watch the team.

Vermezovic's men have won one and drawn two of their group matches while they also sit top of the Serbian League, three points clear of major rivals Red Star Belgrade.

McClaren said: "Newcastle found out what sort of side they are last year. This will be a hard game for us.

"The thing about Europe is that many of the so-called lesser teams are often better. We will have to be wary of that.

"Partizan are a very good side. We have had Don over to see them and he was impressed. But a home game against Belgrade, knowing we are already through, and we can top the group is tremendous for this club."

With qualification already assured, McClaren, despite wanting to finish ahead of the rest, could use this evening's match to rest a couple of his first team regulars.

George Boateng picked up an ankle injury in the draw at Southampton on Saturday and is likely to miss out. There may also be a place on the bench for either Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or Mark Viduka.

"There will be one or two changes to Saturday, but we want to win this game.

"We will put out a team that can win the game," said McClaren. "I have to have in mind the game with Aston Villa on Saturday but I have every faith in the squad.

"I can make changes knowing that we have got results wherever we have been when I have made changes. Old Trafford, Egaleo - the players have been ready and they'll be ready for this."

Middlesbrough (probable): Schwarzer; Reiziger, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue; Nemeth, Parlour, Zenden, Downing; Job, Viduka.

Partizan (probable): Kralj; Vukcevic, Mirkovic, Bronic, Boya, Ciric; Djordjevic, Emeghara, Tomic; Sasa Ilic, Rnic.