Tony Pulis has backed the Stoke fans to give Hajduk Split a welcome to remember as the Potters begin their first European campaign for 37 years.
Stoke will face the Croatian giants in the first leg of the third qualifying round tie at the Britannia Stadium on Thursday night hoping to give themselves a good platform heading into next Thursday's away match.
Boss Pulis said: "It's exciting times. It's part of what has been a fantastic five years at the football club. To have the opportunity of playing a European game at the Britannia against such a famous side as Split is first class. We're all looking forward to it."
He added: "We think they're a good side. We've watched tapes of them from the back end of last season and pre-season and we've been out and watched them. We know a little bit about them.
"But it's a home game for us and irrespective of what they do or they don't do, the priority is that we're prepared, we're right and give it the best shot we possibly can.
"Wednesday and Thursday will all be about us, it won't be about Split. Out of the teams we could have been drawn against, this is as hard a game as we could have had, but it's great and it's really caught the imagination of the local public.
"The place will be rocking. They tell me the atmosphere in Split is fantastic - well let's see what they think of our atmosphere."
Source: PA
