THIS time last week there were six inches of snow and a temperature of minus 12 degrees C in Graz, so it is little wonder Ray Parlour has something other than football planned when he arrives in Austria today - skiing.

Middlesbrough travel to the Alpine country this morning ahead of tomorrow night's UEFA Cup tie with AK Grazer in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium and the former Arsenal man knows all about local conditions.

The 31-year-old travelled the continent with the Gunners and was part of Arsene Wenger's squad which last season travelled to Lokomotiv Moscow and Dinamo Kiev in the Champions League.

The freezing conditions appeared not to suit Arsenal, who failed to win both games and Parlour is hoping Boro enjoy better fortunes in Graz.

Parlour's skiing claims were a little tongue-in-cheek but it would be understandable if he were to try his luck on the Ruckelberg hills to the east of the city during his free time.

"It's going to be cold out there that's for sure. I am going to take my skis with me," said Parlour

"But everyone said that Teesside would be cold in the winter and it's not been too bad. I have quite enjoyed it up here so maybe the same will happen out there.

"I played in Moscow for Arsenal and it was very cold that night. Once you get out there it makes you run around a bit more. We just have to overcome that and it won't be an excuse if we don't. If we lose we can't blame the weather. We are all professionals."

Parlour has won most things during his career, but despite a glorious 14 years at Highbury he never managed to put his hands on the UEFA or European Cups.

He did reach the UEFA Cup final in 2000 but lost on penalties to Galatasaray, despite scoring his spot-kick.

He did claim a Cup Winners' Cup medal in 1993-94 in a win over Parma, while a year later Arsenal lost in the same competition to Real Zaragoza, when they were beaten by the famous long distance Nayim strike over keeper David Seaman.

Parlour is too clever to come out and claim Boro can go on to lift the UEFA Cup this season. But he suggests there is every chance they can progress into the last 16. An aggregate win over two legs will give them a date with either Sporting Lisbon or Feyenoord.

"We have done well so far," said Parlour. "We have reached a good stage and we have every chance of going through. They are going to be a good side but they are not going to be extra special. We have to believe that we can win,

"I was lucky enough to win the Cup Winners' Cup with Arsenal but we lost out in the UEFA Cup. It would be nice to add that to my list but it will be difficult."

Tomorrow's match will be Grazer's first competitive game since the 2-0 win over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the last round on December 15 - a week after the Austrian League's winter break kicked in.

Domestically they have been struggling this season as they look to retain the title. They are nine points adrift of league leaders Rapid Vienna but have only lost twice on home soil.

Parlour, hoping to grab his first goal in a Middlesbrough shirt in Austria, said: "We will try to do a professional job and hopefully finish it at the Riverside then who knows? There's some big teams coming in. Where we have got to this season is great for us. It's just a question of how far we can go."