• Both sides have reached one European final - AZ losing to Ipswich Town in the 1981 Uefa Cup and United being beaten by IFK Gothenburg in the climax to the same tournament six years later.
• This is United's first game in European competition since losing 7-2 on aggregate to Dynamo Moscow in the Europa League qualifiers in 2012.
• AZ reached last season's Europa Conference League last 16, losing to Bodo/Glimt.
• United have twice played Dutch teams in European competition - beating PSV Eindhoven 3-1 on aggregate in the 1982-83 Uefa Cup first round but losing 5-0 on aggregate to Vitesse Arnhem in the 1990-91 Uefa Cup second round.
• AZ have faced Scottish sides twice previously in European competition - beating Rangers 1-0 at home in the 2004-05 Uefa Cup group stage but losing 3-2 on aggregate to Celtic in last season's Europa League final qualifier.

Michael Stewart
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Scotland

Dundee United striker Steven Fletcher to BBC Scotland: “I'm really looking forward to it.

"The gaffer’s given us the information on how they play, we've worked on it in training and hopefully we can implement it tonight.

"I'm always confident, you've got to go into every game confident or there's no point in playing."

John Rankin
Former Dundee Utd midfielder on BBC Scotland

AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen to BBC Sportsound: "It's great to be back in Scotland, we've lost quite a few players since we played at Celtic Park last season.

"But we've brought in some players, too, so we're looking forward to seeing them play.

"We finished fifth last season, we were going for third but in March we tumbled down a bit, but we fortunately got to the play-off spot and we're into Europe this season."

On Tannadice atmosphere: "That's the way with people in Scotland and Britain all over, they experience the game the way it should be experienced."

Image source, SNS

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Whoever progresses through this one will go on to face Riga or Gil Vicente, who drew 1-1 in their first leg on Wednesday, for a place in the groups.

The first leg of the play-off round will be played in a fortnight, with the second leg on 25 August.

Plenty of fitba to be played before then, though.

Craig Levein
Former Scotland manager on BBC Sportsound

On tonight's opponents, United boss Ross adds: "They have an identity about their play, it's not the typical Dutch identity.

"They have good young players as that's the model of their club and they have recent European pedigree, experience, and success so that makes the challenge big.

"But we have players in there that are capable of going and winning this game tonight."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United boss Jack Ross to BBC Sportsound: "The size of the crows is a reflection of how big the club is. We've got to harness the energy we'll get from the crowd.

“I’m very fortunate I've inherited this opportunity and the fact it coincides with my first competitive tie here is a great opportunity.

"It's up to us to produce a performance that will reflect the atmosphere generated in here tonight.

"We feel we have an energy and a youthfulness in the squad but also players who won't be phased and have played in big, big matches throughout their career in Europe or in internationals.

"You want players who will puff their chest out and I get the feeling from the players in there that they’re ready to do that tonight."

Image source, SNS

Pre-match words from this man on the way...

Image source, SNS

Unlike United, AZ's league season is yet to get up and running.

They start their Eredivisie campaign on Sunday when they face Go Ahead Eagles.

However, the Dutch side did have a tie to play before they set up their qualifier with United, one which they came through with ease after thrashing Bosnian side Tuzla City 5-0 on aggregate.

AZ sold Netherlands international Owen Wijndal to Ajax and fellow left-back Thomas Ouwejan to Schalke 04 this summer, with Mees de Wit arriving from Zwolle as a replacement.

Midfielder Fredrik Midtsjo was sold to Galatasaray, being replaced with Dutch international Riechedly Bazoer on a free from Vitesse.

Others who have international caps are central defenders Zinho Vanheusden, the Belgian on loan from Inter Milan, Greece's Pantelis Chatzidiakos and Netherlands' Bruno Martins Indi, plus Dutch midfielder Jordy Clasie, Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis and Sweden forward Jesper Karlsson.

Like United, AZ, who last won Eredivisie in 2008-09, have a long European pedigree, with their pinnacle being beaten finalists in the 1981 Uefa Cup final.

They also reached the semi-finals in 2004-05 and the quarters in 2006-07, before also reaching the last eight of the Europa League in 2011-12 and 2013-14.

Pascal Jansen's side finished fifth in last season's Eredivisie and are aiming to feature in the Conference League group stage for a second year in a row.

They won their group before losing 4-3 on aggregate to Bodo/Glimt, the Norwegian side who had swept Celtic aside in the previous round.

AZ are in Scotland for the second year running after facing Celtic in Europa League qualifying last term.

Ange Postecoglou's men had a tough time getting past the Dutch side despite winning the first leg 2-0 in Glasgow.

Celtic were hanging on for much of the second leg as Alkmaar took a 2-1 lead on the night, but the current Scottish champions just edged through.

If anything, that highlights the task in hand for United.

Image source, SNS

Let's run the rule over tonight's visitors.

Goes without saying, it's going to be a tough one for United...