Hamburg - SV Hamburg will be looking to kick-start a stuttering season Thursday when they face Slavia Prague in the UEFA Cup.

Martin Jol's side have faded badly in the Bundesliga after topping the table early on in the season and needed a spectacular effort by Stanislav Sestak to avoid a fourth away defeat in a row away at VfL Bochum at the weekend.

A home loss to Ajax Amsterdam in the UEFA Cup last week means it is vital the Germans don't slip up in the Czech Republic if they want to remain in the driving seat in Group F for a place in the last 32 of the competition.

Victory will ensure qualification for Hamburg as well as ending the Czech champions' interest in the UEFA Cup. In the other match in Group F, Aston Villa on six points are already virtually assured qualification ahead of the visit of MSK Zilina.

In Group A action Wednesday, already-qualified Manchester City entertain Paris St Germain while Schalke 04 visit Twente Enschede, with Schalke's Dutch coach Fred Rutten visiting his former club.

Twente will be confident of getting a result against the Germans, not least because Schalke were outclassed by City in their last UEFA Cup outing and also conceded two late goals when going down to VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.

In Group B, Galatasaray can make amends for the shock home loss to Metalist Kharkiv by getting at least a draw at Hertha Berlin to progress. The Turks top the group with six points, two clear of Kharkiv and one ahead of Olympiakos Piraeus, who meet in the other group game.

Standard Liege have already booked their place in the knockout stages ahead of their Group C clash with second-placed Sampdoria while Sevilla take on bottom club Partizan Belgrade, who are already out of the competition after losing their three opening matches.

In Group D, Spartak Moscow would be ensured a place in the next round if the Russians beat NEC Nijmegen at home and Dinamo Zagreb fail to win at Italian side Udinese. The Serie A side need just a point against the Croatians to ensure progress.

On Thursday in Group E, VfL Wolfsburg will be looking to join already-qualified AC Milan by taking a point at home to English Premier League side Portsmouth, who are still reeling from letting a two-goal lead slip in their last match against Milan.

Even if Wolfsburg lose, the Germans can still progress if Heerenveen get at least a draw at home to SC Braga.

St Etienne have already qualified from Group G and can be joined by Valencia if the Spanish side manage a draw at home to Club Brugge of Belgium. FC Copenhagen and Rosenborg Trondheim meet in the other group match with the Norwegians knowing they need a win to maintain an interest in the tournament.

Finally in Group H, AS Nancy need a win at home to already- qualified CSKA Moscow to make it to the knockout stages while defeat at home to Deportivo La Coruna will mean the end of the road for Polish side Lech Poznan.