STOKE City have come a long way in the Europa League – all the way from FC Thun to Valencia.

While just about every Stoke fan was scrambling to see which country Thun were from, never mind where in that country, we all know Valencia need no introduction.

It's a huge occasion for the Potteries to have such a big name like that coming to town.

Think about it for too long and you can fall into the trap of thinking Stoke have no chance and should feel honoured just to be on the same football pitch.

That might even have been my attitude until about five years ago.

But for one reason or another I've been watching much more European football during that time and come to the conclusion that, against almost any continental opposition, English clubs have a great chance over two legs.

A lot of these teams are in decline because they are struggling to replace ageing players with good young players coming through.

So the name and the reputation is not always in sync with the actual strength of the team.

True, Valencia are third in La Liga, which some will say is the strongest league in the world, but they are miles behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in my opinion.

And there's no way they would be third in the Premier League.

I'm not exactly saying Valencia are pushovers, and they must start as favourite over the two legs, but what I am saying is that there's no reason why Stoke should show them too much respect either.

Stoke must simply stick to what they are good at.

That means ripping into the game from start to finish if they can because Spanish teams are not used to that kind of tempo over a whole 90 minutes.

Nor are they used to being pushed and shoved around at set-pieces by a car load of six-foot plus strikers and defenders.

It's probably no coincidence that a player like Peter Crouch has such a good record in Europe for his clubs and even further afield for England.

They just aren't used to giant players leaning into them and knocking them off their stride every other second.

What Stoke clearly can't do is play to Valencia's tempo because they will simply get played off the park.

The crowd have an important role in generating the kind of atmosphere in which Stoke's game, that aerial bombardment of theirs, can thrive.

But I'm sure the Stoke faithful will be well up for it on Thursday because these games don't exactly come along every other week.

Robert Huth won't have any problems returning to the fold after all the fall-out over that red card of his against Sunderland. He's far too experienced for that.

His aerial power will be more crucial in Valencia's box than his own because of Stoke's set-pieces and because the Spaniards won't be knocking too many long balls towards the home area. It's just not their style.

We are all wondering just how strong a team Valencia will bring with them to the Potteries.

I reckon pretty strong, if not their strongest line-up, because you find that foreign opposition really do respect the Premier League.

And because of that respect for our clubs, they see any victory over them as a feather in their cap.

I don't expect to see Valencia playing much of a pressing game, whoever they select, so Stoke will have time to build from the back if they choose.

What Huth an Co mustn't do, of course, is give any silly and unnecessary free-kicks away because you can bet Valencia can make them pay within range of goal.

The referee can be so important on occasions like this because of his interpretation of certain situations.

Stoke must hope he's one of those who's a little more lenient and is prepared to let one or two things go.

If not, and if he's the sort to blow if Ryan Shawcross so much as breathes on Roberto Soldado, then that will clearly suit Valencia far more than Stoke.

That said, from what I've seen of Valencia, they aren't the worst offenders in Spanish football when it comes to play-acting and hoodwinking the referee.

I just hope I'm saying the same after Thursday evening.

Can Stoke win and get through to the final 16 of the Europa League?

It's a big ask, but yes they certainly can.

To do it, though, they don't just need a good result this week, but a very good result.

Winning by a couple of goals could be a necessity because of the size of task awaiting them in the Mestalla next week.

But as I say, Valencia are not really the daunting challenge they once were.

You can do it Stoke.

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