Weâ™ll thrive in hostile Belgrade, says Davies

Simon Davies is preparing for a tough time when Wales play Serbia and Montenegro in Belgrade tomorrow.

The Tottenham midfielder has been warned that Mark Hughes's side will face a hostile reception from the crowd during the Euro 2004 qualifier.

Spurs team-mate and Serbian international Goran Bunjevcevic described how difficult it will be for Wales but Davies reckons his team will feed off the atmosphere.

The 23-year-old, who made his full international debut in similarly difficult circumstances in a World Cup qualifier in Ukraine two years ago, said: "There was a particularly nasty atmosphere during that match and that is the sort of thing I am expecting tomorrow. I made a point of asking Goran what it will be like and he didn't paint a very nice picture. There will be a very hostile atmosphere and they will not like us one bit.

"The fans can make one hell of a racket and try to make it as hard as possible for us. It is such an important game that tension levels on the pitch and the terraces will be very high.

"But we can handle that and these are the games you want to be involved in. Don't forget pressure has brought the best out of us in the past and I feel it can happen again."

Wales are top of Group Nine and have a place in the Finals in Portugal within sight. If they win tomorrow they will have a five-point lead over second-placed Italy, having played the same number of games.

This game was scheduled for last April but had to be postponed because of security fears. Wales will be without striker John Hartson and defender Andy Melville through injury but Davies said: "We have all played enough games to get through these kind of things.