TNS scared of Euro embarrassment
Total Network Solutions boss Ken McKenna admits he fears humiliation against European champions Liverpool.
McKenna said he hoped his players could handle the pressure at Anfield.
"We don't want to be made to look a laughing stock, or to be embarrassed and humiliated," said McKenna ahead of the Champions League tie.
"It's impossible to know how my players will react. I felt nervous walking out of the tunnel myself and the ground was empty. We're not used to this."
McKenna told BBC Sport Wales that his side had tremendous respect for Reds skipper Steven Gerrard.
"We were on tour in Ireland when we heard that Gerrard had signed for Chelsea," McKenna said.
" John Lawless and Steven Beck are Liverpool fans and were nearly crying.
"But then the news came that Gerrard was staying at Anfield and they were jumping around like schoolkids."
McKenna admitted his best hope for success is for Liverpool to underestimate his Llansantffraid team.
"It's an advantage that Liverpool only found out about the game a month ago," he said.
"It also helps that we've had European fixtures at this time of year for the past six seasons.
"I hope they are not quite ready and underestimate us. If we play out of our skins we might give them a game, but it could be a huge mismatch."
The village team went down 7-0 on aggregate to Manchester City in a Uefa Cup qualifying tie two years ago.
But McKenna says he is used to major challenges from his four years in the hot seat at the Welsh Premier side.
"There are not many people who come to a club and have to build it up from nothing but that's what I had to do here," he said.
"In the first week all I had was a bag of balls, some cones and three players, so we used to have two-a-side matches."
The club has benefited from the support of millionaire owner Mike Harris, who hopes to take them to a new stadium in Oswestry.
"A lot of people think the owner of the club is a bit mad - I do myself," joked McKenna.
"But when he took over 10 years ago, he said he would have this club playing in the Champions League within five years. We did it in three.
"Now he says he will get us through the early rounds and, at some stage in his life, into the group stages.
"Knowing the man as I do, I would not rule anything out. We have come a long way since the early days."
TNS captain and midfielder John Leah said he was relishing the chance to pit his skills against Steven Gerrard in the match.
"For me Gerrard's the best midfielder in the world," said the 26-year-old.
"It's a double-edged sword facing him, but you want to compete at the top and test yourself against the best.
"I hope he plays. It's something to tell the kids and grandkids, and it's the sort of thing that helps put the Welsh Premier on the map."
Liverpool v TNS
Liverpool could hand a debut to new Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina in place of Jerzy Dudek, one of the heroes of their Champions League triumph.
Mark Gonzalez, Harry Kewell, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor are injured, Antonio Nunez is unlikely to figure, but Fernando Morientes should.
Boss Rafael Benitez must decide whether he can risk cup-tying Milan Baros.
TNS are likely to pack midfield in a battle for possession with either Jamie Wood or Nicky Ward alone up front.
"There are a few injury niggles but we should have everyone available so it will be a case of deciding what's the right side to go into the game with," said manager Ken McKenna.
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Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Hamann, Zenden, Cisse, Morientes, Dudek, Josemi, Welsh, Warnock, Baros, Le Tallec, Potter, Whitbread.
Benitez fears TNS physical battle
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has told his players to avoid a physical battle with Total Network Solutions.
And he warned that the Welsh side would be fitter than his European champions in Wednesday's Champions League tie.
"TNS have played more friendlies and have been training longer, so they will be better than us physically," he said.
"But we have quality and we must use that quality. If we try to play like them it will turn the game into a final, and we know we must be careful."
Uefa's decision to allow Liverpool, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, to defend the trophy means they have to start at the first qualifying stage.
But Benitez has warned his side to forget their memories of the remarkable penalty shoot-out Champions League final win over AC Milan just 49 days ago.
"We cannot think about the past. You have to work for the future and we must prepare properly for every game - like this one - because if we are caught sleeping and dreaming about the past we will be punished."
Benitez also voiced fears over the lack of time his side has had to gel together.
"We have signed some new players and the international players only arrived a week ago so it won't be easy," he said.
"Only half of the squad have been training for two weeks and the rest for one week, so I don't know which team we will see."
The second leg against TNS will also be at Wrexham next week as the Welsh club's 2,000 capacity ground does not meet Uefa standards.
