Zinedine Zidane is adamant his Real Madrid players are physically prepared for the ardours of taking on Liverpool as a "very strange" season reaches a pivotal moment.
The Reds need to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit when they entertain the Spanish giants in their Champions League quarter-final return on Wednesday.
Real go into the game having held on for a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Barcelona on Saturday evening to move within a point of La Liga summit, after which Zidane admitted his players were at the limit of their physical exertions.
But speaking on Tuesday evening, the Real boss said: "We are okay physically! We've had a lot of injuries this season but we just have to deal with them.
"It is tough, it's a very strange season for good reason. But there's nothing we can change about that, we just have to do what we can. The fixtures are what they are - every team has the same difficulties with injuries.
"We are in a position to compete - we don't need to manage our fitness or anything. We are going to try and manage our strengths and injuries. Wherever we go, we try to win.
"In terms of being on our limit, it's about the physical effort, first leg and Barca, and it will be same tomorrow. But we are used to it.
"We are prepared to put in another good performance tomorrow at 100%."
Lucas Vazquez, who featured at right-back in the first leg, is out for the season having picked up a knee problem against Barcelona, joining centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane on the sidelines.
Zidane, though, had better news about defender Federico Valverde, who had also sustained an injury.
"He is fully fit," he said. "He is 100%. So he's with the team and being considered. We will have a think about how we are going to deal with everything tomorrow, but he's certainly fit."
Wednesday will be the first time Zidane has been in opposition to Liverpool at Anfield as player or manager, although he performed there for France against Holland in Euro 96.
And asked if it would be easier for Real with no home supporters present, Zidane said: "We can't do anything about it, it is what it is. We didn't have fans for the first leg. We have to accept it and do it without the crowd.
"We know the sort of game to expect tomorrow. We know it will be difficult. We are very prepared to face up to this game tomorrow."
