Jimmy Calderwood insists Aberdeen "have nothing to lose" when they face Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena on Thursday night.The Dons are looking to complete a major upset against the German giants in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup, with the tie finely poised after a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie last week.

The teams will take to the field in front of a sell-out crowd of 66,000 and although manager Calderwood wants his players to savour the occasion, he feels the only way to truly enjoy it would be to win.

"It is fabulous," he said after arriving at the Allianz Arena.

"I have been to a lot of new stadiums, and this is really amazing.

"It is great for the boys to be here and play against such a fantastic team, but it only counts if you win the game.

"You can only enjoy it if you sit in the bath afterwards having won."

Aberdeen have played seven games in the UEFA Cup so far this season and, for many, their run should end at eight.

Against a side assembled to the tune of almost £50million last summer, the Dons are the rank outsiders, but that will not prevent Calderwood from believing his players "can make history" tomorrow.

"I am very proud and the boys have done wonderfully well in Europe," added the 52-year-old.

"I am the eternal optimist and the lads have worked very hard, not just this season, but last season and over the last three years to get here.

"There is no pressure on is - it is all on them."

Bayern boss Ottmar Hitzfeld insisted he had not been surprised by Aberdeen's brave, spirited performance at Pittodrie and will not be taking them lightly this week either.

And Calderwood is under no illusions that Bayern will be treating this game very seriously.

He said: "They are a massive club in world football and I very much expect Bayern to field their strongest team tomorrow night.

"They will show us respect and they are far too good to underestimate us.

"Bayern will be stronger tomorrow night with (Mark) van Bommel and (Willy) Sagnol back."

For midfielder Barry Nicholson, pulling up outside the Allianz Arena today was an experience he and his team-mates will never forget.

He missed Aberdeen's game against Atletico Madrid in the group stages, but feels this one is going to be even bigger.

"To come in here on the bus was a great feeling," he said.

"For the young lads in particular, it is great to come here and I cannot wait for the game to start tomorrow night."

Although a win for Aberdeen would be a big surprise, it would not come as such a shock to Nicholson, who believes they have "got to take confidence" from the draw in Scotland.

"Nobody gave us a prayer," he said.

"Considering the result, I think we surprised a few people last Thursday and I hope we can do the same again tomorrow.

"We have confidence in the dressing room and everybody is getting a buzz.

"The stadium is full tomorrow and that will give us a lift. I am sure we will be up for it tomorrow night."

According to Calderwood, the ideal scenario on Thursday would be "to surprise them in the last minute with a goal with the score at 0-0".

The Dons boss will mainly keep faith with the players who earned the 2-2 draw seven days ago, although he hinted he may make the odd change "in one or two positions".

Omatsone Aluko should be sure of his place in attack, though, and he is the man Hitzfeld most fears.

"I saw the Copenhagen game and he was the best player out there," said the Bayern coach.

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