Ellen Maggs and Pauline MacDonald both scored in the first 15 minutes out in Russia and have given the team a massive lift going into the game. The team will be without captain Faye White in defence, after she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during the top of the table clash against Fulham on November 7th. Faye's absence is a big blow to the girls, however team manager Vic Akers is confident that they can progress through to the next stage.

"It is a great lead. To come out of Russia with a 2-0 advantage means you have to be very confident of making the next stage. Still we will treat them with respect like we always do and will not be over confident. Our aim was to go further than last season and at the moment we look good for it.

"But there is still hard work to done and we have to get organised before November 28th. We'll be ready for it and hope to have some good support from our home crowd."

To date, Arsenal Ladies are the only English team to have competed in this European club competition and will look to make club history by qualifying for the semi-finals to be played over two legs in April 2003. Last season, in the inaugural UEFA Women's Cup, Arsenal - as English champions - reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to the French representatives Toulouse.

Arsenal Ladies will take on CSK Samara this Thursday 28th November 2002 at St Albans City FC, kick off 7.45pm. Supporters can book tickets by calling the Ladies office on 020 7704 4520 or can pay on the day. Tickets cost £3 for adults including a match programme and £1 for concessions.