Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson offers no apologies travelling to Portugal with a second-string line-up for tonight's UEFA Cup return-leg at Sporting Lisbon.

Captain Kevin Nolan and Jussi Jaaskelainen missed last week's 1-1 first-leg draw at the Reebok Stadium with back injuries and were among those that did not travel.

They were joined by Kevin Davies, Matt Taylor, Andy O'Brien, Ivan Campo, El Hadji Diouf and Ricardo Gardner, while Gavin McCann is suspended and Tamir Cohen, Grzegorz Raziak and Gretar Steinsson are ineligible.

"The focus has to be on this Sunday's game. I have to think that way," insisted Megson.

"If we were in the top half of the table, and maybe out of the running for a Champions League place, then we would go out all guns blazing to try and win this competition.

"We are still trying to do that, of course, but we're third from bottom in the league and in a precarious position.

"We've now got 10 games to try and preserve our Premier League status, which has been our intention all the way along.

"There's still a lot to play for, with 30 points up for grabs, and when we play and play well and we put a good shift in, then we are capable of beating anyone."