Manager Mike Davies saw at first hand what The New Saints will face in tomorrow’s Champions League qualifier with Anderlecht after flying out to watch the Belgian giants in action.

And the Saints chief was suitably impressed as he witnessed Anderlecht lifting the Belgian Super Cup – the equivalent of England’s Charity Shield – with a 1-0 win over holders KAA Gent in Brussels.

“It’s going to be a massive task for us against a side with a playing budget of £40m,” said the TNS boss.

“They’ve got a lot of talent in the side, and they recently sold one of their lads to Wolves (Jelle van Damme for £2.5m) so it shows what we’re up against.

“They don’t appear to have any weaknesses.

“In anyone’s book, Anderlecht are a great club and I will be hoping my players really lap up the occasion because days in football like these do not come around too often.

“We will try to take it all in our stride and try to enjoy ourselves because we haven’t really got too much to lose.”

Anderlecht’s have four Argentinians and a Brazilian striker in their multi-national squad, which also includes the two highest-paid footballers in their domestic league.

Mbark Boussoufa is a three-times winner of the Belgian footballer of the year award, who has also won the domestic Golden Boot and joined Anderlecht in a 3.5m euros deal.

Midfielder Jan Polak, who made his return from an injury lay-off as a substitute against Gent, is a Czech Republic international who arrived in August 2007 in another 3.5m euros transfer.

So Davies is under no illusion about the size of the task as he and his Oswestry side prepare for one of their biggest tests on the European stage at Wrexham tomorrow (7.45pm).

By JOHN BRIDGWATER