Bolton manager Gary Megson has made no apologies for heading out to Lisbon for the UEFA Cup with a second-string side.With Premier League survival the number one priority for Megson, the Whites squad that travelled for the second leg of the last-16 tie was shorn of a number of stars.

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.

Sporting Lisbon coach Paulo Bento is certain to be surprised when he sees the line-up for the game, with a place in the last eight still in the balance.

But Megson is far more concerned about Sunday's relegation showdown at Wigan on a quagmire of a JJB Stadium pitch than the opportunity of making further progress in Europe.

That may disappoint the loyal fans who will have paid good money to see Bolton in Lisbon, but it will be tempered by understanding given the team are now back in the bottom three.

"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."

Bolton have already proved that this season, notably beating Red Star Belgrade 1-0 away with a team similar to the one that will take to the pitch at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

The Whites have also defied the odds in gaining draws at Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid with weakened teams, and there is no reason to believe they cannot do so again.

"We are capable of going there and scoring," added Megson, whose side have to find the net to keep their hopes of progress alive.

"Although Lisbon are a quality side and we've a difficult hurdle to overcome in this second leg, we've faced quite a few difficult hurdles this season.

"When we faced Bayern Munich we did so without 10 injured players, yet still drew 2-2 against a team that last week beat Anderlecht 5-0 away.

"When we went to Belgrade we beat them 1-0, and on the following Sunday (ironically at home to Wigan) I made 10 changes and we won 4-1.

"That shows we've players who can come in and do a job.

"Of course, I play a team to do as well as we possibly can in both competitions, but the emphasis has to be on the Wigan game."

Although a trip to Lisbon is one Bolton could arguably do without in light of the clash with the Latics, Megson is adamant the UEFA Cup has not become an unwanted distraction.

"I'm not saying it's that, but it's something we have to contend with," added Megson.

"It's only a distraction because we haven't enough points in the Premier League to be able to focus entirely on the UEFA Cup, which is a shame, but that is where we are."

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