“All the guys are disappointed after all of the hard work we had put into the game in the first leg.

“We go over there with an advantage for the next game but we have to bear in mind that we will be playing away from home.

“As long as we don’t concede a goal everything will be fine. We have got to be hopeful because we have got a good team.

“If we can repeat the form we showed in the first game, we can definitely do it. But we have to be mentally and physically strong. I think we will go for them.”

Despite the upbeat view from Pienaar, team-mate Tim Cahill admits Everton missed an opportunity to capitalise on Sporting’s indifferent form over the past month.

“I thought it was a really good chance to take these guys when they were on a bit of a down turn and they seemed a bit vulnerable,” said the Australian.

“We should have taken our chances and finished them off, but I suppose when you play against class opposition if you don't finish them off, they can do that to you.

“But a 2-1 win against a great side like Sporting is fantastic and it’s just a bit unfortunate the way it finished. They were pretty lucky to go away with a goal in the end.”