Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood is full of admiration for Bayern Munich - but he believes the worst thing the Dons can do is show the Bavarian giants too much respect.
Calderwood knows more than most about the aura of the German club, having spent years in neighbouring Holland as a player and coach.
But he saw Hansa Rostock sit off them - and pay the price - on a recent spying mission before they gave Ottmar Hitzfeld's side a fright in a recent Bundesliga game.
And although he admits avoiding an away goal in the first leg of the UEFA Cup last-32 clash at Pittodrie would be a good result, he will at least order his men to defend as high up the park as possible.
Calderwood said: 'I spent a long time in Holland, I know just how big the institution of Bayern is.
'They go out to win every competition they play in and every game they play. But we cannot show them too much respect. I went out to Rostock the other week. The people of Rostock were great, and the Bayern people were great too.
'Rostock sat off them in the first half and got punished. But they had a go after the break and scored and had Bayern worried. Bayern did enough in the end but it showed you have to defend on the front foot.
'But 0-0 is a very good result in a European game at home nowadays.'
Calderwood faced some coaching greats in Holland and he is delighted to pit his wits against Bayern boss Ottmar Hitzfeld, who won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
'I have faced Cruyyf, Hiddink, van Gaal. The man (Hitzfeld) is a legend, it will be nice to add him to the list,' Calderwood added.
Calderwood has had a difficult week, with injuries undermining his preparations as it looked like he might have been without 10 first-team players.
But the Aberdeen boss's mood lightened yesterday after Andrew Considine, Zander Diamond, Barry Nicholson and Darren Mackie shrugged off injury problems.
The Dons still have five first-team players out - Jackie McNamara, Jamie Smith, Derek Young, Richie Byrne and Richard Foster.
However, Calderwood said: 'It's a massive boost. It was always going to be very, very difficult but with nine first-team players out nigh-on impossible. But the guys are fit and it has given everyone else a lift.'
Aberdeen will also have to leave out one of their January signings as UEFA rules state only three players can be added to a squad after Christmas.
Former Dundee United defender Stuart Duff has been tipped to miss out with Alan Maybury and Josh Walker in line to play along with former De Graafschap defender Dave Bus, who is looking to make his second appearance for the Dons.
The Dutchman endured an inauspicious start to his career with the Pittodrie side in a 5-1 defeat by Celtic on Sunday.
But he believes he will soon adapt to the Scottish game and is desperate to face the Germans.
Bus said: 'It will be a dream come true, as you say. It is a massive game and I am just glad to be playing a part. I have to learn, that's for sure, but everyone learns every day.
'Bayern are a big club in Holland. Germany-Holland games are always very competitive and every player is proud for their country when they play.'
