Porto boss Sergio Conceicao is hopeful he can call on veteran centre-back Pepe against Liverpool.

The Portuguese giants are set to play without defender Ivan Marcano, but they are eager to include Pepe in their squad.

Porto are in second position in the group, and know that a win against the de facto group winners would put them in a good position to qualify for the round of 16.

"Marcano will not travel with us," Conceicao stated during a pre-match press conference.

"Pepe will travel, but it will be until the last minute to try to recover a player who has weight not only on the field but in the dressing room. There is still some hope."