"Teams need inspirational players," said manager Graeme Souness. "All the very top teams have two or three people that drag the slightly lesser lights along with them, and then those two or three will drag the other five or six along with them.
"Certainly Alan Shearer comes into the first category where you stand up and be counted in every game."
Souness's men face a major test at the Jose Alvalade Stadium to progress to a semi-final against either AZ Alkmaar or Villarreal, but they know that a repeat of the clean sheet they kept in the first leg will be enough to ensure that.
"That was the best thing to have come out of the first game," said Shearer. "They proved to us that they are a decent side, their technical ability is excellent.
"But I think looking at the teams left in this competition, we have a great chance of winning the UEFA Cup, I really do. I keep saying it, but if we can get past this round, then we will have a great chance."
Souness will make late checks on goalkeeper Shay Given, who missed Sunday's defeat at Tottenham due to a hip injury, and defender Titus Bramble, who has been out for four weeks following a hernia operation.
Aaron Hughes is suspended and Jean-Alain Boumsong ineligible but Kieron Dyer, Lee Bowyer and Steven Taylor are all available after missing last Sunday's defeat at Spurs due to domestic bans.
