Euro 2012: Dariusz Dudka aims to be on form to face Czechs

Poland midfielder Dariusz Dudka hopes to be back fighting fit for the Euro 2012 co-hosts' must-win Group A clash with the Czech Republic on Saturday.

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"I'm feeling much better now," said Dudka, who suffered a recurrence of a recent cartilage and muscle strain during Tuesday's hard-fought match against old rivals Russia where the Poles fought back to level the score to 1-1.

"I'm planning to be at tonight's (Friday) training session. I don't know if I'll still need a pain-relief injection. But I want to play in the match with the Czech Republic," he told the Polish news agency PAP in Warsaw as the team left for the southwestern city of Wroclaw.

The 28-year-old, who plays for French club Auxerre, was on the bench for Poland's Euro 2012 opening 1-1 draw against Greece last Friday.

Poland coach Franciszek Smuda named Dudka in the starting line-up against Russia, deploying him as a defensive midfielder in order to move Lech Poznan's Rafal Murawski into an attacking position.

Dudka was taken off in the 73rd minute.

"I picked up this injury two months ago with Auxerre, but I returned to play quickly," said the player, who strained an adductor muscle in his left leg and inflamed the cartilage in his pelvis.

"It came back during the Russia match. I felt a stabbing pain and knew it was the same thing. The problem is that when you're fighting for the ball, you move your hips in an uneven manner."

With 64 appearances since his 2004 debut, Dudka is the most-capped player in Poland's largely young team.

He signed for Auxerre in 2008 from top-flight Polish club Wisla Krakow, but is planning to move on as they have just been relegated to the second division.

"After four years, I'll be leaving Auxerre, and probably France. I'd like to try my hand in the Bundesliga," Dudka said, referring to the German top flight where many of his big name Poland team-mates are based.

"But I don't want to discuss any transfer issues until Euro 2012 is over."