Gary O'Neil vowed his Strasbourg side will be "ready for war" as they attempt to down Rayo Vallecano and reach the Conference League final.

Rayo travel to France for the return leg on Thursday after last week's narrow 1-0 win at Estadio de Vallecas, thanks to Alemao's looping second-half header.

Both sides are looking to reach their first major European final, with Strasbourg hoping to become the eighth French team and Rayo the 13th Spanish side to manage that feat.

And O'Neil is aware of the massive occasion that awaits at Stade de la Meinau.

"We are ready for war here," the Strasbourg head coach said in Wednesday's pre-match press conference.

"We have already shown what we can do in this stadium. Tomorrow, we will try to reproduce it again.

"Representing the club in a home Conference League semi-final is a huge honour."

Strasbourg could become the first French side to overcome a defeat in the first leg of a knockout tie multiple times in a major European season since Monaco in the 2003-04 Champions League, en route to the competition's final (lost to Jose Mourinho’s Porto).

The omens are positive for the hosts as well, given that Strasbourg are unbeaten across their 11 knockout-stage games in major European competition (W7 D4) when playing the second leg at home.

They have already managed to eliminate Mainz despite losing the first leg 2-0 in the quarter-finals, as a 4-0 home win turned things around.

“For it to rest on my shoulders, for it to be my responsibility to prepare the team for these supporters and for this football club, is a tremendous honour and a privilege," O'Neil added.

"Of course, we have already accomplished great things this season, but this is a new step that we must try to take."