SCHALKE go into the first European final in their 93-year history when they play host to Italy's Inter Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Cup final tonight, but striker Marc Wilmots has shrugged off suggestions that his side start the match as underdogs.
"We're not afraid," said the Belgian. "It's 50-50."
Wilmots' confidence is well founded. The team from the Ruhr coal-mining region have dug out victories in all five of their home matches in this year's competition, and the two-legged final offers them a rare chance to outshine local rivals Borussia Dortmund - if only for a few weeks.
Schalke's resolve is likely to have been stiffened by Saturday's 1-0 Bundesliga loss to Dortmund, who have an Italian job of their own later this month when they tackle Juventus in the European Cup final.
That league defeat continued a depressing sequence on the domestic front for Schalke, who have not won in two months in the Bundesliga - a run covering eight matches.
Their form in Europe, however, remains a source of encouragement, and Thomas Linke, like Wilmots a scorer in the semi-final win over Tenerife, refuses to be intimidated by Inter's reputation.
"Milan are a huge team, a great name," Linke said. "But we have already shown in Europe that with our discipline we can hold our own against superior teams.
"This combative team spirit is something Inter can never have," he claimed.
Schalke have attackers Martin Max and Youri Mulder on the injury list, though Max was adamant that he would play "even if only 70 per cent fit".
He said: "I want to start and play as long as my legs will allow," said the striker, who played the last 15 minutes of the match against Dortmund on Saturday but failed to add to his 11-goal Bundesliga haul this season.
Captain and playmaker Olf Thon is one of the few star names in the Schalke ranks, and he believes the 56,000 supporters ready to pack the Parkstadion will help his side "achieve the impossible" against a depleted Italian side.
Suspension and injuries are set to rob Inter coach Roy Hodgson of several key players for the match.
Frenchmen Jocelyn Angloma and Youri Djorkaeff, together with English midfielder Paul Ince, are all suspended, while Swiss star Ciriaco Sforza and defender Roberto Pi stone are both doubtful with injuries.
Sforza was taken off during Inter's disappointing 1-0 home defeat by Vicenza on Saturday with a bruised left shin. Pistone played the match with a pain-killing injection.
That defeat, combined with Parma's win over Atalanta, means Inter lost ground in the fight for Serie A's second Champions' League spot.
