Slovenia defender Jaka Bijol says his side is “full of confidence” as they prepare to face Sweden in their World Cup qualifier at the Stožice Stadium on Friday evening (19:45 BST).

The Leeds United player believes Slovenia can make the most of home advantage in Ljubljana, where Matjaž Kek’s team have put together an encouraging run of results.

“We are ready for a tough test, and with the support of the Stožice crowd we can achieve a very good result. The atmosphere has been very positive for some time,” Bijol told reporters.

Slovenia’s progress in recent international fixtures has left the squad with a strong sense of belief. Bijol insists that resilience and teamwork will be vital against opponents who have also impressed in recent months.

“All of us are full of confidence, thanks also to our past achievements. We know we can play against anyone. We are ready for a tough opponent. If we help each other, we are convinced we can stop them.”

The 25-year-old also highlighted conversations with his Leeds teammate Gabriel Gudmundsson, who is expected to feature for Sweden.

“They are very confident too, which is based on their good results in recent times. Both sides are well prepared, so I expect a good match,” Bijol added.