Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa
Europa League play-off first leg
Venue: Gerhard Hanappi Stadium Date: Thursday 19 August Kick-off: 1745 BST Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website, updates on BBC Radio 5 live and live on ITV4
 Striker Emile Heskey is likely to start Villa's match in Vienna
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Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald has a weakened squad to pick from for Thursday's Europa League play-off first leg at Rapid Vienna.
Richard Dunne is suspended while John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carlos Cuellar and James Collins are injured.
Stiliyan Petrov, Luke Young and Ashley Young are rested but Emile Heskey, Brad Friedel and Stewart Downing may play.
A number of youngsters, including James Collins Jnr, Eric Lichaj, Shane Lowry and Andreas Weimann have been included.
"It is a very big game," MacDonald told BBC Sport. "Villa have had some outstanding nights in Europe, and it is very important to stay in the competition for the squad players to play games and for the youngsters to try to develop so we will do our utmost to do that.
"The players were outstanding [in the 3-0 home victory over West Ham] on Saturday and now some of the youngsters will get an opportunity."
It is a youthful-looking squad and Rapid coach Peter Pacult has believes his club can knock Villa out at this stage of the competition for the second successive season.
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606: DEBATE
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As they did in 2009, Villa take on Rapid in a Europa League qualifier, and again with the first leg in Vienna at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium.
A year ago Villa's then manager Martin O'Neill paid the price for fielding a weakened team as the midlands club lost 1-0 away and only won 2-1 at home, so exiting on away goals.
"Villa are in better form compared to this time last year," said Pacult, comparing Villa win against West Ham to the 2-0 home defeat they suffered before heading to Vienna in 2009.
"But we have the confidence and the will to beat Villa again. We showed last year just what is possible."
After starting the Austrian Bundesliga season with back-to-back defeats, Rapid have since responded with consecutive wins.
They also recently defeated Bulgarian Cup holders PFC Beroe Stara Sagora 3-0 at home for a 4-1 aggregate win in a third qualifying round tie.
Midfielder Steffen Hofmann feels Villa will show Rapid far greater respect on this occasion than they did a year ago.
"Aston Villa will not underestimate us again," said Hofmann. "We showed last year we can compete, and if we play like we did against Salzburg [in a 2-1 home win earlier this month] and storm their goal, it will be difficult for Villa to beat us at home."
Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Guzan, Parish, Lichaj, Warnock, Clark, Davies, Baker, Osbourne, Beye, Reo-Coker, Bannan, Downing, Albrighton, Collins Jnr, Delfouneso, Lowry, Heskey, Hogg, Weimann.
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