Maccabi Haifa v Glentoran (Wed)

Glentoran's Paul Leeman was bed-ridden with a virus

Glentoran skipper Paul Leeman has been passed fit for the Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa after recovering from a viral infection.

The experienced central defender has not been able to train since the Irish League title holders arrived in Israel.

Leeman's availability is a major boost for the east Belfast side ahead of the first leg in Israel.

The Glens are without Shane McCabe and Mattie Burrows as they are suspended after red cards in Europe last season.

Boss Alan McDonald said he wanted to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

Linfield and Lisburn Distillery have already been dumped out of Europe and Glentoran start as massive underdogs against a strong Israeli side.

"We are a part-time club so it is a big ask - we will try our best and we want to keep it respectable," said McDonald.

"As long as we come out of it with our pride intact, that's the main thing."

He added: "Maccabi Haifa are a fabulous team who have been reasonably successful in Europe in the past couple of years.

"We've got a game-plan and hopefully the players can deliver on that.

"It is also going to be quite warm, even though we are playing in the evening."

The Glens played Maccabi in the 1998 European Cup Winners' Cup with the Israelis winning both legs and progressing 3-1 on aggregate.