Emily Bolton is relishing an unexpected chance to be part of the Women’s Champions League as the competition moves to the semi-final stage.

Emily is part of the Saint Quentinois squad which won its group in Austria to reach the last four – they face the host club Linz in the second semi-final at 7.15pm UK time tonight.

Click here to watch the event livestream on ETTU TV

Emily was not expecting to be part of the squad but was called up when Canada’s Mo Zhang pulled out. The England No 4 said: “I went back to training in November and thought I’d just be training with the team, so I was taken aback to be in the squad.

“It’s in a bubble environment and we’ve had two days without playing, which is a long time in the bubble, but it’s been good to be in and around it. There’s so many big names here and the experience of seeing how people prepare and train is great.

“I came here knowing that unless someone gets injured or is ill, then I wasn’t going to play – I knew that and it’s fine. If there is an issue, then I’m there to play as well as I can.”

A Saint Quentinois side featuring Polina Mikhailova (WR 46), Sarah de Nutte (WR 76) and Andreea Dragoman (WR 254) reached the stage by defeating CarinthiaWinds Villach of Austria 3-0 and Czech side Stavoimpex Hodonin 3-2.

Semi-final opponents Linz have three players in and around the world’s top 30 and Bolton said: “It’s going to be a really tough match. There’s no pressure on us and it’s a matter of hopefully we can play well and something good can happen.

“This year has been a year that no one was expecting it to be. This for me is a big plus in a negative year generally.”