Group I leaders Everton will have to be at their best when they travel to Portugal to face illustrious European opponents Benfica at the Estádio da Luz on Thursday evening.

The Toffees have been in impressive form in Europe this season and are currently leading their group by three points ahead of tonight's opponents and AEK Athens, who are fighting for the group's second spot.

Following a 4-0 thumping of AEK at Goodison Park and a hard fought 2-1 away win against BATE, despite an array of injuries, the Merseyside club are firmly in control of the group and will take confidence going into the game.

David Moyes' side started the Premier League season in poor form, with three defeats in four, but results have picked up and they now remain unbeaten in seven.

Everton defender Leighton Baines admits his team-mates are relishing the up-coming tie and expect to do well.

"They (Benfica) have definitely got a bit of everything in the side and some real top-notch individuals," Baines told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It will be interesting for us to pit our wits against them and hopefully we can come out on top.

"We fancy ourselves to go there and put in a performance."

Moyes' men played poorly against Wolves at the weekend and just managed to sneak a draw thanks to a goal from summer signing Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, two minutes from time.

Everton's defence has been on top form, conceding just three in seven, and will have a busy night against Jorge Jesus' side who are desperate for a result after crashing to defeat away to AEK in their last European outing.

O Glorioso are certainly dangerous opponents and boast the attacking talents of Oscar Cardozo, Pablo Aimar and former Barcelona hitman Javier Saviola.

Last years third placed team in the Primeira Divisão, have a rich pedigree in Europe having made seven European Cup final appearances, winning two, and finishing as runners-up in the UEFA cup in 1983.

Benfica are tough opponents on home soil and have won eight successive games domestically, racking up cricket scores of 8-1, 5-0 and more recently 6-0, against Recreativo de Monsanto in the Portuguese Cup.

Team News:

Benfica have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game and are expected to name the same-line up from their last European outing in Greece.

Everton meanwhile, continue to struggle with a host of injuries, with Joseph Yobo, Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman all failing to make the trip.

Defensive duo Phil Nevilla and Phil Jagielka are on their way back to full fitness, while Lucas Neill and Johnny Heitinga are ineligible, but in-form striker Louis Saha does return after suspension.

Probable Starting XIs (*Star man):

Benfica (4-1-2-1-2): Cesar; Pereira, David Luiz, Luisao, Peixoto; Garcia, Ramires, Aimar, Di Maria; Cardozo*, Saviola

Everton (4-4-2): Howard; Gosling, Hibbert, Distin, Baines; Cahill, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov*, Saha, Yakubu

ExtraFootie Prediction: Benfica 2 - 2 Everton - With the home side needing the points, they will attack Everton from the off.

The away side currently have one of the meanest defences around but will struggle to contain a Benfica side who have been scoring for fun. Both sides are of similar ability and it should be a close game.

Fancy a flutter? You can back a 2-2 draw at 12/1 or Bilyaletdinov to pop up with a goal and open the scoring at 14/1.