West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic intends to field a strong team in tomorrow's first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round match at the Boleyn Ground (kick-off 8.45pm).
A second-string West Ham United side eased to a 4-0 aggregate win over Andorran minnows Lusitans in the first round but Bilic regards tomorrow's game as an important part of his preparations for the English Premier League.
"It is a difficult balance," Bilic, who took over from Sam Allardyce in the close season, told the pre-match news conference.
"At least it’s unusual especially till today, till tomorrow let’s say.
"To think that you have two teams because we didn’t want to call up the senior players before because we’re going to need them till May. In England there is no winter break.
"But we wanted to respect the Europa League because it’s a big opportunity and privilege to any club. So we wanted to find a balance.
"We had one team that was playing and training and started early and played these two games against Andorra (Lusitans).
"It was bingo, it was a jackpot and great for young players.
"But then the other team started on time and we went to Cork.
"I was in Ireland and flying to Andorra and then London. Of course it’s not ideal. But from tomorrow’s game we’re starting to have a normal preparation for the Premier League.
"We would have played tomorrow anyway.
"The only thing I would like to avoid is having to fly to Malta next week and lose two and a half days.
"Europea League, if we qualify of course, it’s good for the club. Good for the spectators and individually the players. To play against clubs that play different style. It boosts your confidence and your quality as a man and a player."
Meanwhile, the chartered flight carrying the Birkirkara contingent touched down at Stansted Airport late on Tuesday night.
Serbian defender Nikola Vukanac and Bosnian forward Edin Murga didn't travel with the team as they had to fly out to France to obtain a visa to enter the UK.
Vukanac and Murga are expected to arrive in the English capital this afternoon in time to take part in their team's late training session at the Boleyn Ground.
Birkirkara qualified for the second qualifying round of the Europa League after beat Armenia's Ulisses FC 3-1 on aggregate.