UEFA are expected to announce that three Premier League clubs will qualify automatically for the Champions League group phase from 2009.

The fourth-placed Premier League team, however, are likely to face a much tougher task in making the group stage as they will have to play a qualifying round against another side from the leading leagues in Europe.

Previously, the fourth-placed teams from England, Spain and Italy were almost assured of a place among 32 Champions League clubs by being seeded against a side from a weaker European country in the final qualifying round.

Scotland's champions will also qualify automatically under the changes being put forward by UEFA president Michel Platini, with the Scottish runners-up likely to face two qualifying rounds.

The decision will be taken by UEFA's executive committee meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, on Friday and will also see six group-stage spots reserved for the champions of the 40 lowest-ranked countries among UEFA's 53 members.