Marseille skipper Lorik Cana has urged the Stade Velodrome supporters to get off the back of misfiring striker Djibril Cisse and cheer the Mediterranean club on to a win against Porto that would "open the doors to qualification".
A place in the last 16 can not be secured this week, but victory against the Portuguese champions on Wednesday would mean Marseille had taken nine points from their first three Group A matches.
Cana told the club's official website: "We are playing against immediate competitors for qualification for the last 16. It is a chance for us to open the doors to qualification."
However, the Albanian is concerned at the treatment meted out to France international forward Cisse who has found goals in short supply this season.
Cana admitted recently-installed coach Eric Gerets was baffled at the treatment of Cisse in Marseille's 1-0 win over Lens at the weekend.
He said: "He (Gerets) was surprised because it was his first (home) match but Djibril was not. He already experienced it last season. We are not enjoying it because he is an important element of the squad. No-one is enjoying it. As captain I don't like one of my team-mates being whistled, especially when he is trying his best."
Cana nonetheless hopes that Cisse can pull out of his slump.
"Djibril knows that the supporters expect a lot from him," said Cana.
"With another player it would be different. All the same it's encouraging because people know what he is capable of but that he is unable to free himself at the moment. We are all helping him. These whistles will help him keep his head up so that things start to work again."
Cana is expecting Porto to provide stern opposition, saying: "They are a redoubtable team that is used to playing in the Champions League."
Porto have won the European club title twice, in 1986-7 and 2003-4.
"Porto play in this competition every year, unlike us. They are in form, they are leading their championship and they won in Turkey and, if you know how tough it is to win in Turkey, that's a real achievement."
Porto have started the campaign well with a home draw with Liverpool and a win against Besiktas.
Porto coach Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira has named a 19-man squad for the trip to Marseille.
Helder Postiga and Edgar return to the line-up while Adriano and Ernesto Farias did not board the plane.
Defender Fucile has passed a fitness test and was named in the squad by the Portuguese champions.
Jesualdo Ferreira struck an upbeat and humorous note in the build-up to the game, telling www.abola.pt: "I have no doubts that Porto are a fashionable club. Like fashion, football is very aggressive and very beautiful. We will play to our maximum potential."
