Vitor Pereira stressed Nottingham Forest's hunger and desire to compete for the Europa League title as they prepare to face Porto in their quarter-final second leg on Thursday. 

Forest drew the first leg at the Estadio Do Dragao last week in bizarre fashion, with William Gomes' 11th-minute opener quickly cancelled out by Martim Fernandes' own goal, which came from an overhit back pass near the halfway line. 

Forest have lost just one of their seven away Europa League games this season (W3 D3), but they now return to the City Ground, where things have not been so straightforward.

They have lost three home Europa League matches this season – no English side has ever lost four home games in a major European campaign.

However, Forest have faced Portuguese opposition at home just once in European competition, which came against Porto earlier this season, as they triumphed 2-0 at home in the league stage in October. 

And off the back of an important point in the Premier League against Aston Villa, who they could meet in the semi-finals, Pereira remained optimistic of progressing. 

"They are working very well. This is a very good group. We're missing some time together to put things in my way, but this is not an excuse," Pereira told reporters. 

"This is a moment to look for our qualities, to be positive, to believe, and to go there and compete.

"I'm hungry to compete, I want to compete and prove myself every day. This is the message for us, for our supporters. Let's go.

"I cannot win games here [in the press conference]. On the pitch, we can win and prove ourselves."

This will be Forest's first major European quarter-final on home soil since a 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup in 1995-96.

Forest have lost each of their last three home knockout matches in major European competition, including that match, as many defeats as they suffered in their prior 21 such matches (W14 D4).

And their task could be made even more difficult by the absence of Elliot Anderson, who Pereira revealed missed Wednesday's training session due to personal issues. 

"Today, he was not able to train," Pereira explained. "He has personal problems, and we have to respect him. We will see [about tomorrow], we need to wait."

Pereira has often spoken about finding the right balance between Forest's European commitments and their Premier League survival bid, and Thursday is no different for him.

After facing Porto, Forest, who are 16th and three points above the relegation zone, take on Burnley before a tough away trip to Sunderland five days later. 

"We will try to keep going," Pereira said ahead of another reunion with his former club. "We will try our best to keep going, with responsibility.

"Trying to find a way to compete in both games is the only way I know. Working, working, working and giving confidence to them [the players]; giving confidence to take risks.

"It is trying to be consistent. To face the two challenges, we need to be consistent.

"In this moment, I need to think about both games. It is important to balance energy and to face Burnley in our best condition because it will be a tough game again.

"Tomorrow, when we are looking at the first XI and the subs, we have to look at the time for everyone on the pitch, and the potential of extra time.

"If you go to extra time, it is another challenge. But I am positive. We know the game will be very tough. We need to play at a better level than we did in the first leg."