Porto v Nottingham Forest: Team newspublished at 19:05 BST
19:05 BST
Former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva starts for Porto alongside ex-Southampton centre-back Jan Bednarek.
Ex-Norwich City forward Borja Sainz is in attack for the hosts, who were beaten 2-0 by Nottingham Forest in October.
Porto XI: Diogo Costa, Fernandez, Silva, Bednarek, Zaidu, Fofana, Rosario, Gabriel Veiga, Sainz, Moffi, William Gomes
Substitutes: Ramos, Joao Costa, Kiwior, Froholdt, Pepe, Alberto Costa, Prpic, Varela, Gul, Tiago Silva, Moura, Mora
Chris Wood starts for Nottingham Forest after six months out injured.
The striker, who scored 20 goals last season, has not played for the club since Ange Postecoglou's final game in October, but returns in Portugal following a knee injury.
Dilane Bakwa, Dan Ndoye, Morato, Zach Abbott, James McAtee, Stefan Ortega and Ryan Yates also start in a much-changed line up.
Follow Thursday's European games livepublished at 18:43 BST
18:43 BST
There are three Europa League and Conference League fixtures involving Premier League clubs on Thursday night - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Fear, anger or excitement - how are Forest fans feeling?published at 17:28 BST
17:28 BST
The Premier League's return this weekend brings trepidation for some and excitement for others.
Football's emotional rollercoaster becomes intense at this time of year, unless of course mid-table mediocrity has taken a grip of things in recent months.
So how are you feeling as a Forest fan with just a handful of weeks left to go?
The league form reads: DLLDDW
The next three league fixtures are: Aston Villa (h), Burnley (h) and Sunderland (a)
Forest's two ambitions remain in their grasp during season of upheavalpublished at 13:24 BST
13:24 BST
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Nottingham Forest went into the season aiming to win the Europa League.
That desire grew again under Ange Postecoglou - however briefly - as he looked to defend the title he won with Tottenham, telling the players the trophy was a stated aim.
So, with Forest in a European quarter-final for the first time in 30 years as they look to dispatch Porto, it stands to reason winning the competition is a goal - and a realistic one.
Yet, Vitor Pereira has to strike a fine balance between European progression and Premier League survival.
Forest are just three points above the drop zone with seven games left as they battle to stay up.
It would, perhaps, be a perfect snapshot of the season should Forest get relegated and win the Europa League - to play Champions League in the Championship - after four managers during a chaotic campaign.
Aston Villa or Bologna await in the semi-final, providing Forest get past Porto - who they beat 2-0 in the group phase in October.
Porto have other targets as well - top of the league, they are aiming to win the title for the first time in four years.
It could mean changes for the clash at the Estadio do Dragao - from both teams - as they look to protect themselves on all fronts.
Pereira - returning to Porto where he won two league titles - batted away questions about priorities during his pre-match news conference on Wednesday, but Forest's two ambitions remain in their grasp - survival and European glory.
Champions League or Championship?published at 13:17 BST
13:17 BST
David Jackson BBC Radio Nottingham reporter
Three weeks ago Nottingham Forest's players were facing a pivotal week. First was the huge test to overturn a deficit against a consistent Midtjylland team in the Europa League and then, just a few days later, what was being viewed as a relegation decider at Spurs. Forest won them both, of course.
As if that wasn't enough, fans also got the news that Chris Wood will soon be back (and indeed, he is in the squad for tonight).
It's fair to say the mood has changed in the last 21 days. There's more optimism. There's hope. There's also a feeling of togetherness, helped in part by an open training session held at the City Ground over the weekend which also allowed Vitor Pereira a chance to develop more of a relationship with supporters.
How much Wood will be able to impact on the team's hopes in either the Europa League or the Premier League remains to be seen. After six months out, former Forest and England midfielder Steve Hodge believes it's "nigh on impossible for him" to get to the level he was at last season, in such a short space of time.
But with options so limited up front for Forest, any kind of Wood will be welcome and the positivity around his return has already served a purpose in generating that optimism I mentioned.
The club now embarks on a six-and-a-half-week spell that could, at one end of the scale, see Forest in both the Premier League and the Champions League next season. At the other end, they could be in the Championship and needing a rebuild. They passed the test of that huge week against Midtjylland and Spurs. Now for more.
Join BBC Radio Nottingham from 18:00 BST for all the build-up to Porto against Forest in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. You'll hear commentary on the radio from 20:00 BST.
'Forest are going to have to be really good on Thursday night'published at 13:17 BST
13:17 BST
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray says Forest can use their 3-0 win away at Fenerbahce earlier this season as a blueprint as they prepare to face Porto in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
Forest dominated from start to finish in Istanbul to record their biggest ever away win in European competition in Vitor Pereira's first match in charge in February.
They also beat Thursday's opponents earlier this season in the league phase at home in Sean Dyche's first game in charge, but since then Porto have opened up a lead at the top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
"It is going to be a heck of a challenge," Fray told In the Game on BBC Radio Nottingham.
"They've obviously proven they can beat Porto because they did earlier this season in the league phase.
"That's Porto's only defeat in the Europa League and at home they are five wins from five. That shows you their strength - they have only lost once at home in all competitions this season and they are five points clear at the top of the Portugese league with only a few games left.
"All that emphasises what a difficult tie Forest have facing them over the two legs, but we spoke in similar terms about Fenerbahce with the atmosphere there, the big stadium and the feel of a big European club. Forest went there and won 3-0 and were outstanding that night.
"In a season where you never quite know what you are going to get, Forest have done fairly well on the road in Europe. They have had some good performances away from home, but they are going to have to be really good again on Thursday night."
Pereira on Wood, Porto and rotationpublished at 20:51 BST 8 April
20:51 BST 8 April
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham before Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Porto at Estadio Do Dragao (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his discussion with Colin Fray:
Pereira said Chris Wood is back in training after six months out, adding: "He is working with the team. I hope he can help us in the games we need to face. My experience with this kind of injury, we cannot expect 90 minutes and 90 minutes and 90 minutes. I need to manage him in the proper way."
The Forest boss said time off from fixtures has allowed them to "recover small injuries". Jair Cunha is "in the last days to recover totally" but Pereira thinks Nicol Savona is out for the remainder of the season.
On facing Porto Pereira warned his side "need to be focused in every second" with a "mentality to compete for every ball".
Pereira, who managed Porto from 2011 to 2013, said: "Tomorrow will see a fantastic atmosphere for sure. I will be red. I think it's the first time I will be red in the stadium. Tomorrow we come here to prove ourselves. For us and our fantastic supporters, it will be a big challenge."
The Portuguese head coach detailed the challenge of facing Porto, who sit five points clear in the Portuguese top flight: "This time, for Porto, they are doing very well in the league, trying to get the title. It is a moment for the club where they are connected with their supporters. Fenerbahce was more emotional, in a moment where you are not winning the title in their case. Porto is in a different moment, they are hungry for titles."
On having faith in his squad and an ability to rotate for the fixture, he added: "This is the only way to compete in the league and here. Porto is the kind of team they change 10 players for Europa League. The only way to make the players feel they are important in a club, that everyone is important in a club and ready to help the club. We are feeling we can change a player and they will perform because they are ready. We will start with a good team and intention to win the game."
🎧It's time for Portopublished at 20:48 BST 8 April
20:48 BST 8 April
Join David Jackson, Colin Fray and Steve Hodge on a special episode of Shut Up And Show More Football from Porto as Nottingham Forest prepare for a Europa League quarter-final.
Jesus eyes World Cup spot with Brazilpublished at 20:46 BST 8 April
20:46 BST 8 April
Nick Mashiter in Porto Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Striker Igor Jesus has revealed his World Cup dream as he plots European glory with Nottingham Forest.
The 25-year-old has scored once in five games for the five-time winners and wants to seal his spot with Brazil for the summer's tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Jesus is the Europa League's seven-goal top scorer and is in Porto with Forest ahead of Thursday's quarter-final first leg.
He has netted 13 times this season - although just three in the Premier League - since a £10m move from Botafogo last summer.
"To be among the players (going) to the World Cup it would be a dream and I think I have the skills for it but it will result from what I do here too," he said at the Estadio do Dragao.
"I have been preparing very well, I always try to help my colleagues the best way possible and I hope I can keep doing it."
The forward scored in the 3-0 first-leg knock out win in Fenerbahce, Vitor Pereira's first game in charge, and is eager for more against the Portuguese league leaders, where he will face former Chelsea defender and fellow Brazil international Thiago Silva.
"I'm really, really happy to be top scorer, we know it's not easy to be there. I always work and give my best to help the team. Tomorrow we have an important game and we can do it," said Jesus.
"He (Silva) is a top centre back, I don't care about that. I want to do my best and help the team. He is a good player and we have so many good players and we can do our best tomorrow and win the game.
"We know our quality and we know what we can do and we know we can do it."
Pereira returns to Porto aiming to make some historypublished at 16:19 BST 8 April
16:19 BST 8 April
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, PA Media
Vitor Pereira returns to face Porto for the first time since leaving 13 years ago.
The Nottingham Forest boss won two Portuguese titles as head coach, having succeeded Andre Villas Boas when he left for Chelsea in 2011.
He has been assistant to Villas Boas before that.
Porto stand in the way of Forest reaching their first European semi-final since the 1984 Uefa Cup last-four defeat by Anderlecht.
Forest have flown to Portugal after training in Nottingham and Pereira will be in the media suite of the Estadio do Dragao this evening to face the press.
His side are entering the season-defining phase of the campaign with three home games to come - including the return leg against Porto - after the trip to Portugal.
Aston Villa visit the City Ground on Sunday with Burnley arriving a week later and Forest could be all but safe and in a European semi-final in the next 11 days if results go their way.
They are still just three points above the relegation zone in the Premier League and could go down and win the Europa League, but there is a growing sense of confidence they will, at least, maintain their top-flight spot.
Europe has been a welcome distraction from league troubles this season but, with improvements domestically, it means Forest have the chance to attack both with full force.