Zenit St Petersburg v Liverpool Europa League last 32 Preview Feb 14, 2013
Team News:
The club's players have been briefed on how to react to possible racist abuse.
"I will make reference to it because we have players it could affect," said Rodgers.
In December a Zenit fan group called for non-white and gay players to be excluded from their team.
Liverpool have since written to both Zenit and Uefa to "express concern" about the incident, but have advised players not to walk off the pitch in protest at abuse from the crowd.
Liverpool have travelled to Russia with three black players in England international Glen Johnson and teenagers Andre Wisdom and Raheem Sterling.
Zenit's last Russian Premier League game was a 1-1 draw with Anzhi Makhachkala on 10 December since when domestic action has halted for a winter break.
The Russian champions have played in a series of friendlies since but manager Luciano Spalletti is happy that his team are fit and ready for their return to competitive action.
"We have trained well, done our homework and played a lot of good training matches, the boys are in good shape," he said.
"Of course if such a player as Gerrard is allowed time, he will do things the way that he wants and that will not benefit us.
"If Suarez is allowed to move in the way that he likes to move then he will cause a lot of problems for the team, but, for Zenit, this is one of the challenges we enjoy."
Spalletti's Liverpool counterpart Rodgers is without Sturridge and Coutinho because they have played in Europe already this season for Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively.
However, Spanish teenager Suso, who appeared 16 times before the turn of the year and just twice since, and England under-19 international Conor Coady, make the trip.
Competition: Europa League last 32:
Match: Zenit St Petersburg v Liverpool
Date: Thursday 14 February
Kickoff: 17:00 GMT
Venue: Stadion Petrovski, St Petersburg
Live/Repeat: Live
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