Jesualdo Ferreira believes the Champions League clash against Arsenal will be a good test of how far Porto have progressed.
Ferreira's men head into Wednesday night's last-16 first-leg tie in confident mood, having lost only one of their previous nine matches domestically.
However, they have not had much fortune against English teams at the Estadio do Dragao, having gone down 1-0 to Manchester United in the quarter-finals last year and by the same scoreline to Chelsea in the group stages of this campaign.
And Ferreira has urged his players to prove their worth tomorrow night.
"Porto are going through a good period and I think this is the ideal opponent for us to evaluate where we are in terms of growth and ability," he said. "This game for us has the importance of being a test of quality.
"We really want to get through to the quarter-finals, even though we know that this opponent was one of the most difficult that we could have been drawn against.
"In the last four years we have always reached the last 16, last year we were in the quarter-finals, and this year we want to continue again in the competition."
The Portuguese champions faced Arsenal twice in last season's group stages, losing 4-0 at the Emirates before recording a surprise 2-0 victory in the return fixture to finish top of the pool.
Ferreira added: "A game between Arsenal and FC Porto, in a competition like the Champions League and with the characteristics and history of the two teams, is always open and well played.
"In this context, it will always be an attractive game, which captivates the spectators.
"With FC Porto, I've already played twice against Arsenal at the Dragao: once we drew and last year we won.
"This is the first part of a qualifier, which both teams want to win. Unfortunately, we cannot ask for what we like or want.
"This round is not done by points, but by goal difference. Not to concede at home is fundamental, but winning is most important. It is only victories that give us more confidence and prestige."
Ferreira will be boosted by the return of Hulk to the squad.
The imposing centre-forward has been provisionally suspended for six months by the Portuguese football federation for his part in a tunnel bust-up involving Benfica stewards last December but is free to play in European ties.
Midfielder Raul Meireles, who has been sidelined for a month, also returns as does Alvaro Pereira.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who has highlighted Hulk as Porto's dangerman, believes Sol Campbell can prove his worth to Arsenal if the veteran defender plays tomorrow.
Campbell has featured just twice for the Gunners since beginning a second spell with the north London club in January, playing 90 minutes in the FA Cup defeat at Stoke and 55 minutes in the 0-0 Barclays Premier League draw with Aston Villa.
But the 35-year-old former England international looks likely to be called upon to make his first European appearance for Arsenal since the 2006 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in 2006 following an injury to fellow centre-half William Gallas.
Gallas (back), midfielder Alex Song (knee) and Andrey Arshavin (hamstring) were all absent from the 18-man squad which left Luton Airport this afternoon, as were goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (finger) and striker Eduardo (hamstring).
Asked if that meant Campbell would play, Arsenal boss Wenger said: "It's a possibility that I don't rule out at the moment because if he does not play it means two left-footed players in that position (Thomas Vermaelen and Mikael Silvestre).
"It would mean he can show his signing was worth doing and he can help us in going through to the last eight."
Speaking about Almunia, Wenger added on Sky Sports News: "Almunia already had a twisted finger and made it worse and I did not want to take a risk."
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