The Cypriots, who drew 1-1 at twice European champions Porto last time and are the biggest overachievers of this season's competition so far, will also be looking for a better performance than Friday's display against Anorthosis when they were forced to settle for a goalless home draw the league.
APOEL's Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic said he could understand why the team played so poorly on Friday with the Porto match looming and the possibility of a place in the last 16 awaiting his squad, but an anticipated capacity crowd of 22,000 fans in Nicosia on Tuesday will have high expectations.
"The APOEL match is fundamental to us. We know that to go over there and win will require a Porto side at its very best level," he said.
"I am sure that in the APOEL match, with a good performance and a good win, the fans will applaud, because they love the club and they love football," said Pereira, assistant to Andre Villas-Boas last season when the club claimed a memorable treble of Europa League, Portuguese Premier League and domestic cup.
"Wins bring confidence and confidence brings quality. That is what we will be looking for in Cyprus."
Mangala, also captain of France's Under-21 team, will probably feature against APOEL. He is taller and physically stronger than Otamendi and impressed in his last two performances in the backline.
Walter, who was on the scoresheet in Porto's rout over Nacional, cannot be picked because he was not registered to play in the Champions League, a decision that Pereira has publicly regretted. This leaves Brazilian striker Kleber as Porto's only obvious option to play with Hulk up front.
