Joey O'Brien is convinced Bolton can cause another UEFA Cup upset at Sporting Lisbon on Thursday to take their place in the quarter-finals.Gary Megson's side face Sporting at the Estadio Jose Alvalade with the tie up for grabs after a 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium last Thursday.
However, with safety in the Premier League an absolute must for Megson, the team to face Sporting on this occasion will be considerably different to the one that ran out last week.
With Sunday's relegation clash at Wigan paramount, a number of influential players were left behind.
Captain Kevin Nolan and Jussi Jaaskelainen did not play a week ago due to back injuries, and so have not travelled.
Also left at home were Kevin Davies, El-Hadji Diouf, Andy O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo and Matt Taylor, while Gavin McCann is suspended.
Throw in the fact Grzegorz Rasiak, Gretar Steinsson and Tamir Cohen are ineligible, and Megson goes into tonight's game without 12 players.
On paper, Bolton would appear to have little chance of reaching the last eight, but they have defied the odds on occasion this season, and O'Brien feels they can do it again.
"Over the last few years no-one has expected anything from Bolton Wanderers, yet we've still upset teams, and hopefully we can do it again," said the Republic of Ireland right-back.
"We've enjoyed upsetting teams. We've been doing it for a long time here, and there's no reason why we can't go on and win this.
"The reason I believe that is because of the players we have and the results we've had this year, so we have as good a chance as anyone.
"Not many teams go to Bayern Munich and do well, or play well and win in Belgrade against Red Star, or face Atletico Madrid and not only don't lose, but don't concede a goal.
"That's despite our league form, which we know has been pretty bad, but hopefully we can sort that out in the next 10 games and stay up.
"But this game is nothing to do with the league. It's all about qualifying for the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup.
"That's the main aim now and hopefully we can do that."
O'Brien feels another against-the-odds performance will serve the club well when they take on local rivals Wigan at the JJB Stadium, and beyond.
"These are the kind of games that can raise the confidence within the team," added O'Brien.
"It can have a positive impact because if we get a good result then we can take that into the league for the rest of the season."
O'Brien feels Megson's policy of leaving key players at home, as was the case against Bayern, Red Star and Atletico, has paved the way for fringe players to come in and prove themselves.
That has led to the unlikely results against that trio of teams, with O'Brien adding: "It's a great opportunity for the lads to play against a great side like Sporting.
"If you ask any player within the team: would you rather play Sporting or not? They're all going to say they want to play.
"Everyone wants to play, and as we have a chance of reaching the last eight, so players want to be involved."
England Under-21 international Gary Cahill will skipper the team, with the 22-year-old only learning of the news as Megson announced it at the pre-match press conference.
A stunned Cahill said: "It's a great honour for me. Leading out Bolton will be a real privilege and it's something I am very much looking forward to."
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