IF Newcastle United fear Juventus will scupper their Champions' League dreams by fielding a weakened team against Dynamo Kiev next month, they need only ask Arsene Wenger about the rich seam of footballing talent at Marcello Lippi's disposal.

Needing to beat a depleted Juve last March to confirm their place in the quarter-finals, Wenger's Arsenal lost 1-0 in the Stadio delle Alpi to crash out of the Champions' League.

Instead of Alessandro del Piero, there was Tomas Guzman; rather than Gianluigi Buffon in goal, Fabian Carini made his second and last appearance for Juventus.

Even former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Enzo Maresca started the game as Pavel Nedved was given the evening off by coach Lippi. But Juve's second string were too strong for Arsenal, and it is this result that should fill Newcastle with confidence as they rely on Juve to avoid defeat in Kiev on November 13.

Italian sports journalist Gabriele Marcotti said: "I would expect Juventus to go to Kiev without del Piero, Nedved, Buffon, Edgar Davids, Lilian Thuram and Paolo Montero.

"But the guys who will come in will be internationals - Chile striker Marcelo Salas and Uruguay forward Marcelo Zalayeta, for example - and they will be eager to make an impression. The players who come in will still give their all, and that's definitely a positive sign for Newcastle."

The Magpies players left St. James' Park on Tuesday night begging Juventus to put up a fight against Kiev, who need only to match Newcastle's result away to Feyenoord to progress.

Gary Speed added: "It's still going to be difficult for us. Juve are already through, and they've got to go to Kiev and get something for us. That won't be easy because Kiev are brilliant at home."

Aaron Hughes added: "We have to rely on what happens in Kiev.

"Kiev are a good side at home and it's going to be a tough game for Juventus."

* PSV Eindhoven will appeal against the UEFA fine for their fans' racist behaviour during the Champions' League clash with Arsenal. PSV chairman Harry van Raaij accepts that the Dutch fans were in the wrong, but does not accept that the club could have done anything about it