The odds on the 4to1.com Europa League selection have hardly shortened since we put them up before the first leg of knockout games a few weeks ago.

However, we guarantee that Rubin Kazan’s odds will tumble significantly if they reach the quarterfinals.

The oddsmakers favour the Russian champion, at around 11/10 (2.10) for their Thursday first leg encounter with Wolfsburg, who have shown much improved form in the German Bundesliga of late

Fortunately the German’s defence is still far from solid and the fast counters of Rubin will cause them plenty of problems.

We envisage problems for Juventus – at 1/2 (1.50) the night’s shortest favoured side. The Old Lady has looked sluggish for most of this season and Fulham are a well disciplined outfit that have sufficient weapons to take advantage of any of the lapses that have resulted in Juventus lying only fifth in Serie A and 15 points off leaders Inter.

Hamburg, Thursday night’s only other real short’un, is also very unattractively priced.

The oddsmakers ask for 7 of yours to win 4 of theirs on the German side who host Belgium outfit Anderlecht.

Another over rated side is Liverpool, who lost their Monday night English Premier encounter at Wigan.

Rafa Benitez side is still 11/2 (6.50) favoured for the trophy. But we at 4to1.com think they will have their work cut out getting past Lille – who is a general 11/5 (3.20) to take a first leg lead in France.

We will probably stay out of the match action.

But we were considering taking some of the freely available 16/1 on Rubin Kazan, having already tipped up the 20/1.

However, the much improved form of their opponents has put paid to those thoughts.