The Gers will run out at Benfica Campus in Lisbon as they look to overturn a 3-2 deficit after last week’s close-fought first-leg at Ibrox.
Thomson says Rangers will be ready to face the challenge of the Portuguese champions as they bid for a place in the Group Stage of the competition.
Speaking to the media at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference, he said: "We know what we have achieved last year winning the league and getting to the Champions League has been phenomenal and then progressing and getting through Round 1 of that was almost a proof of concept and a belief went into the squad.
"We are now at a stage of their development that this experience is going to be so pivotal in us moving forward for the rest of this season. We have no fear about the tie, we have an attitude where we believe in ourselves. If we have the majority of our squad playing to their capabilities then sure we can get a result but the level we are playing at against Benfica it is going to take all those players firing at the one time in the evening. We have planned and prepared properly, we have a desire and a passion to win collectively so we are looking forward to the tie."
Reflecting on last week’s first-leg, the Gers boss believes both ends of the pitch will be key tomorrow evening. He continued: "At this level you have to take your chances and the real pleasing thing was that we got into goal scoring opportunities. We probably only got into five or six but we managed to have a good goal ratio to that.
"In domestic games we are probably creating numerous chances and our goal ratio is lower so again at this level it is about how to retain the ball. The whole tempo and the pace of it is up another level and the chances you do create you have to capitalise on and you have to score those goals which then allows you to progress in the game itself. The other side of that is if you do lose the ball in certain areas you can get hurt and you can get hurt badly.
"We have analysed Benfica prior to last week's game and obviously playing against them we knew that their style of play is very forward and very attack-minded they have a lot of players in their group who are really affray with the ball, they are skillful, they're fast but we will put a game plan together to make sure that we have a shape and a structure behind the ball to try and counter that.
"We have worked hard and the team has worked hard and without being arrogant, there's a bit of confidence within them and a bit of belief with them and the staff as well and why not. Why can you not plan and prepare as we do and go into the game with a positive mindset and look to utilise our strengths within that game."
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