Goalkeeper Dudu Awat says Israel must show no fear when they take on Portugal in Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon.

Eli Guttman’s men start the match in second place, ahead of Portugal on goal difference in Group 6, as they go into a World Cup double-header that sees them travel to Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

Tickets sold out weeks ago and a capacity 40,000 crowd is expected to watch Israel attempt to qualify for the finals for only the second time.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo will be the main attraction, and he will be looking to pick up where he left off after scoring against Awat in the 5-2 win over Real Mallorca in La Liga last weekend.

“It will be a different story this time,” Awat said. “If we are very aggressive and very disciplined then we can get a result.

“Portugal are a great side and we cannot sit back and let them play their game.”

While Portugal will be missing injured Manchester United star Nani, Guttman has recalled Premiership players Yossi Benayoun, Tal Ben Haim and Itay Shechter.

Possible line-up: Dudu Awat (Real Mallorca); Rami Gershon (Celtic), Dekel Keinan (Maccabi Haifa), Eitan Tibi (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Tal Ben Haim (QPR); Bibras Natkho (Rubin Kazan), Beram Kayal (Celtic), Maor Melikson (Valenciennes), Lior Refaelov (Brugge); Tomer Hemed (Real Mallorca), Eden Ben-Bassat (Tolouse)