MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren says he expects his team to beat European giants Lazio despite the visitors being installed as tournament favourites.

Boro face the Italian Serie A side in the second UEFA Cup group game at the Riverside tonight aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the competition and progress into the last 32.

The Teessiders comfortably dispatched Banik Ostrava, 4-1 on aggregate, in round one before a Stuart Downing strike earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Greece, against Eagleo, in the first game of the group stage.

This evening's UEFA Cup tie against Lazio, however, offers Boro a much sterner test than they have previously faced. But despite Lazio's impressive European pedigree, McClaren remains undaunted and says his side are more than up for the challenge.

He said: We need to win and we're expected to win and the players expect to win.

"They are full of confidence, given we have gone seven games unbeaten. The biggest plus is the way we are defending at present - you can't win anything in Europe unless you can defend well.

"This is what we were looking forward too from winning the Carling Cup. We wanted to get into Europe and pit our wits against the best and they come with no bigger a reputation than Lazio, who are favourites for the competition.

"We have a very good chance of beating them and the way we are playing we are very confident, but we can't underestimate them.

"They've lost some players and have a few injuries but they are still one of the giants in European football.

"The home advantage in Europe is always a big advantage but Lazio are probably better away from home. They don't concede too many goals and it is going to be a tight affair."

McClaren admitted his most experienced players hold the key to Boro's success this evening on the pitch, but also revealed the big influence they have off it too.

He said: "Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebaink are vitally important.

"There are few chances in games like these and you're looking for your big players to step forward. They are generally the strikers, someone who can unlock a tight defence with a flash of brilliance, or a goal from nothing, and in Viduka and Hasslebaink we certainly have players of that ilk.

"They also have a hell of a lot of input into a game. They are as vocal as I am and that's why we have brought the likes of Hasslebaink here.

"Gareth Southgate is a good leader but Jimmy certainly takes on that mantle in a vocal sense on and off the field.

"We knew Jimmy was like that, what his temperament was like and that he was a winner.

"You ask any top manager and they will tell you their top players do a lot of the work. They have to do the work out there (on the pitch). You just provide the environment for them to flourish."

Flourishing, enterprising or attractive are not adjectives usually associated with Italian football.

The Boro boss realises the Rome side will probably come to Teesside with a stifling game plan in a bid to frustrate the home team He warned the Riverside faithful not to expect any thrilling feast of football and urged them to be patient.

"We have to make sure the fans don't get frustrated before the players do, because then it transmits on to the pitch and affects their performance," said McClaren.

"Patience is the key, and not from just us but the players and fans. It could be a long night but hopefully a one in which we win.

"In Europe you have to concentrate and focus. You rarely win the game in the first 20 minutes and we've found that in the three games we have played so far.

"The players can't wait for the game but I think it's an absolutely massive game for the fans as much as anybody.

"We saw that against Ostrava in the first game and we need to create that again tonight.

"We don't fear anybody but we don't underestimate them because they have a fantastic reputation and are favourites to win the competition.

"We're delighted we have pulled a club of that size out of the hat just as much for the club as for the fans.

"I think it is a measure of how far we have come. The players expectations are high and they expect to go to any ground and find a way to win, and they expect to win tonight.

"It won't be easy but we'll take a dodgy 90th-minute penalty to win it."

Meanwhile, Boro's injury jinx has struck again. Midfielder Ray Parlour looks as if he will miss out tonight with a sore back after taking a knock in Saturday's 2-1 victory at Charlton.

Gaizka Mendieta is to have an operation to fix his anterior cruciate ligament on November 9 in Barcelona.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.