Image source, Getty Images

Even before four 'lucky losers' from the Champions League drop into the Europa League mix, there is a far bit of quality knocking around the Europa League.

Last year's winners Sevilla are already into the group stages along with Fiorentina while Inter Milan, PSV and Lyon are knocking around the play-offs.

Did you know that Ossie was sent on loan by Tottenham to Paris St Germain during the Falklands War?

Anyway, he makes a good point about the depth of the Tottenham squad.

I'm a little surprised that Erik Lamela was not given a chance to boost his confidence. There should be more space tonight than at Upton Park on Saturday.

A first start of a big season for Harry Kane as well. Handed a new five-year deal at the start of this season, will the 21-year-old be able to become a first choice at the Lane?

Former Tottenham Hotspur player Ossie Ardiles on Twitter:, external Not only Europa Cup but any competition Spurs enters, very important. And we have a big squad to challenge. Come on you Spurs!

So with the carrot of Champions League football to play for, should Tottenham and Hull consider prioritising the Europa League?

Will Christian Eriksen be benched for a north London derby to keep him fresh for a tricky trip to Metalist Kharkiv?

Will Tom Huddlestone rest up at Old Trafford in preparation for the visit of Guingamp to the KC?

Successfully negotiating the next 17 games of Europa League football might well be easier than achieving a top-four finish across 38 games in the Premier League.

Join the debate at #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, 81111 on text or the BBC Sport Facebook, external and Google+, external pages.

Image source, @hulldailymail

Hull Daily Mail on Twitter:, external Hull City flags in Lokeren.

First up on the Europa League magical mystery tour for Spurs is a trip to the Cypriot city of Larnaca to face AEL Limassol in the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium.

Hull climb aboard a little later this evening, travelling to Belgian side KSC Lokeren at 19:30 BST.

England's third and final participant, Everton, are already through to the group stages courtesy of their fifth-place Premier League finish last season.

Number one. This season's Europa League winners, in addition to that nice big shiny pot, will get their hands on a 2015-16 Champions League spot.

Number two. After his summer switch from Southampton to Spurs, Mauricio Pochettino is now in charge of a side that has the resources to pick a £26m striker, a £10m left-back and two England internationals on the bench on the opening day of the season.

Number three. Probably as a result of the first two, Pochettino has had a rethink on the Europa League. It is now a "different competition" and represents a "big challenge".

Image source, Reuters

Certainly the workload involved in a Europa League run did not appeal to Mauricio Pochettino six months ago.

"I don't see the appeal of the Europa League," he said in February., external

"I think it is a competition that kills you in the sense that there are a lot of mid-table teams that put a lot of effort into it and then are not able to do anything in the league."

Three things have changed since then.

Image source, @spursofficial

Tottenham Hotspur on Twitter:, external Here's a glance inside our changing room ahead of the Europa League play-off first leg.

Tottenham give a debut to left-back Ben Davies as Jan Vertonghen replaces Younes Kaboul in the centre of defence. Paulinho starts in midfield with Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado in harness up front.

Tottenham: Lloris; Naughton, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Paulinho; Holtby, Townsend, Kane; Soldado.

Subs: Friedel, Rose, Dawson, Chadli, Dembele, Sandro, Lamela.

Image source, Getty Images

One thousand, five hundred and thirty minutes, or 25 and a half hours of football.

Seventeen games. Almost half a Premier League season.

That is all that separates Hull and Tottenham from climbing the steps at the National Stadium in Warsaw and hoisting the Europa League trophy.

You can almost taste it....