UEFA Cup Preview Group F : Aston Villa

Group F brings together three former winners of the European Cup, although the glory days for Ajax, Hamburg and Aston Villa are some time ago. This is a section that Martin O'Neill's team should be able to get through, although Villa can't be complacent.

O'Neill's squad is full of vigour but light on European experience, though several have played under-21 football. They will lean heavily on John Carew (a former Champions League finalist), ex- AC Milan man Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry.

Ajax

Villa kick off their campaign with a visit from Ajax and this is the sort of game where a draw wouldn't be a poor result. The Villains begin and end the group against their two most powerful rivals ,so a point each from Ajax and Hamburg would be acceptable.

Surprisingly, Ajax still have their key striker Klas-Jan Huntelaar, who has long been linked to English and Spanish clubs. They have also held on to wing back Urby Emanuelsson, who will be glad he didn't join Spurs.

In recent years Ajax have lost out to their keen rivals PSV Eindhoven as Holland's top club but they have the potential to go a long way in this competition. They can call on the experienced Spanish pair Gabri and Olegeur, recruited from Barcelona.

Slavia Prague

Slavia are regular competitors in Europe but when they come up against teams from the major leagues, they have a tendency to fall short. Arsenal gave them a 7-0 hammering at the Emirates Stadium in last season's Champions League but they recovered to force a 0-0 on home turf.

Most of their squad are home players, with a smattering of foriegn recruits. Their most notable face is former Liverppol man Vladimir Smicer, who has a Champions League winners medal from 2005.

This is no easy game for the English visitors but if Villa can quiet the crowd in the opening 20 minutes extra quality should tell.

MSK Zilina

This home game will be the one Villa target for a definite 3 points. MSK are always title contenders in Slovakia, winning their domestic league 4 times since 2002. They are performing above their usual level by reaching the UEFA Cup group stage but Villa will still expect to win this encounter.

There are no big names in the squad though many have played international football, including a pair of Bosnian caps.

Hamburg

Martin Jol's side are riding high in the Bundesliga so Villa will want to have qualification wrapped up before the final trip to Germany. Despite losing Rafael Van Der Vaart, Jol has the side playing with confidence.

Dutch caps Joris Mathiesen and Nigel De Jong offer a solid spine at the back and central midfield; there is trickery and pace up front from the mercurial Croatian Ivica Olic and his more muscular compatriot Mladen Petric. Marcell Jansen has been capped 28 times for Germany and skipper David Jarolim is one of the most respected overseas stars in the Bundesliga.

Jol has them playing positively and they have the means to trouble any side. Martin O'Neill would like 5 points minimum before this trip.

Verdict

The group is no 'gimme' by any means but Villa should do enough against the two East European sides to guarantee progress. Ajax and Hamburg will be good tests of the club's ambitions.