Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has vowed to take the Europa League seriously ahead of his first match in the competition since winning it with Porto last year.
Harry Redknapp fielded a shadow side last term but Villas-Boas has declared be would pick a "strong team".
"We want to do something special in this competition," he told his club's official website. "This competition is very important.
"It's a tough competition. You have to play 15 games before you reach the final, so it's hard and strenuous and the best teams out of the Champions League are playing.
"It gives access to the European Super Cup and, for me, I always thought it was a prestigious competition and it should be promoted like that because after the Cup Winners' Cup disappeared, it is not only about the Champions League.
"If we can win a trophy, that represents a lot for Tottenham Hotspur's history as well and would be something really special."
Thursday's opponents Lazio have begun Serie A with a hat-trick of wins and Spurs' summer signing Gylfi Sigurdsson said: "They are a good team.
"It's great to play in Europe and we're looking forward to that game, trying to get off to a good start. It will be important to get three points at home."
