Sporting Lisbon go into their 200th UEFA Cup fixture against Swiss side Basle without influential midfielder Adrien Silva.The 18-year-old, who has been linked with several top European clubs this season, sprained an ankle in Sporting's 2-1 Portuguese Cup win over CS Maritimo at the weekend and has been ruled out of the last 32 clash with Basle.

It remains unclear whether Silva will be fit for the away leg on February 21.

The hosts will also be without forward Yannick Djalo, who had surgery on a thigh injury last month, having not played since mid-November.

The Lions have had a stuttering season so far in the Portuguese SuperLiga and are currently placed fourth.

A win against league leaders and fierce rivals Porto two weeks ago lifted Sporting's confidence but that was followed by a 1-0 defeat to Belenenses.

The capital club will be hoping their experience in the Champions League earlier this season will work in their favour.

They finished third in a tough group behind Manchester United and Roma but did not lose any game, either home or away, by more than one goal.

Basle will also be lacking the services of two key players in defender Koji Nakata and midfielder Scott Chipperfield.

Nakata suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung during his side's 2-0 Swiss Super League defeat at Young Boys on February 3 and Australian Chipperfield sustained a foot injury at the weekend.

The Swiss league leaders are brimming with confidence after beating Neuchatel Xamax FC on Saturday.

However, the club is currently shrouded in uncertainty after manager Christian Gross admitted holding informal talks about taking over at Bundesliga outfit Hamburg.

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