SAINTS striker Marian Pahars has shaken off a groin strain ahead of Latvia's debut in a major football Championship finals tomorrow.

The country with a population of only 2.3 million face tournament dark horses the Czech Republic tomorrow.

And Pahars is hoping to put behind him 18 months of injury frustration.

"A year ago, I would have said I would definitely have started in the team. But I have missed a lot of football in the last year-and-a-half," said Pahars, pictured right.

Latvia are expected to make an early exit fro Euro 2004 as they have also been drawn against Holland and Germany.

Pahars - 42 top-flight goals for Saints in 105 starts, plus 24 as a sub since signing from Skonto Riga in February 1999, said: "There is no pressure on us.

"Everyone expects us to lose, so any result we get is a bonus.

"And if we can get a draw or even a win from our first match, then who knows?"

Latvia coach Aleksandr Starkovs feels his team must take a lesson from Greece ahead of the Baltic nation's European Championship debut.

"The Portugal result is a lesson on how the little teams can beat the favourites," he said.

Vitaly Astafjevs, who could not even get a regular game in the Bristol Rovers team two seasons ago, will skipper Latvia tomorrow.