BATE Borisov vs AS Roma preview - Injuries plague Roma ahead of Champions League encounter with BATE Borisov

Roma travel to Belarus to face BATE Borisov in Tuesday's Champions League Group E match nowhere near full strength.

The Giallorossi thumped Carpi 5-1 on Saturday in Serie A but midfielder Seydou Keita and forwards Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko got hurt in that game and will miss the midweek encounter at the Borisov-Arena.

Keita and Totti sustained right thigh injuries and will be re-evaluated in 10 days while Dzeko, who joined Roma on loan from Manchester City this summer, is out for a month with a right knee injury.

"Injuries are part of football," Roma captain Totti said. "I'm just focusing on recovering as soon as possible to return to play."

With Dzeko and Totti out, Roma will have to rely on Mohamed Salah and Gervinho to deliver up front.

Salah scored for the third game in a row on Saturday to lift Roma to sixth in Serie A.

Gervinho opened his goal account this season against Carpi, much to the delight of Roma coach Rudi Garcia.

"We know Gervinho can be brilliant offensively and he showed during the pre-season that he wants to do his bit to help the Roma cause," he said on the club's official website.

"He had a very good game against Carpi and he's got his confidence back again now - that's always good for a striker."

Roma won just one of their five away European games last season but BATE will not take them lightly.

The Italians held defending European champions Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in their Group E opener

BATE, meanwhile, fell 4-1 at Bayer Leverkusen and have never beaten Italian opposition in their previous nine attempts.

The Belarusian title holders warmed up for the encounter with a 2-1 win at FC Minsk on Friday to extend their unbeaten run to six league games.

BATE are 12 points clear of nearest rivals Dinamo Minsk at the top of the domestic standings.

"We proved we are a strong team as we managed to win," BATE midfielder Nemanja Nikolic said on his club's official website.

"Now we would like to be equally efficient against Roma in the Champions League."

BATE coach Aleksandr Yermakovich will be without midfielder Aleksandr Hleb, who is out with a muscle injury while forward Vitali Rodionov is still sidelined with a knee problem.

Roma goalkeeper Wojcech Szczesny returned to training on Monday after recovering from a finger injury but Morgan De Sanctis is expected to play between the posts at BATE.

Midfielder Alessandro Florenzi, whose wonder goal earned Roma a point against Barca, and winger Iago Falque are doubtful with knocks.