Although consigned to the play-offs when eventual group winners Germany became the first visiting side ever to win a World Cup qualifier in Moscow back in October, Russia still look a formidable outfit and consequently come into this clash with Slovenia as red-hot favourites. With their club sides finally making an impact in Europe and many of their top stars plying their trade in the English Premiership, Russian football is very much a rising force and World Cup qualification is only likely to accelerate that trend. Vastly-experienced coach Guus Hiddink has named a powerful-looking 24-man squad for the play-off clash, with striker Roman Pavlyuchenko expected to start despite struggling to secure regular first-team football with his club side Tottenham. Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin is also set for a key role and is likely to be joined in the starting eleven by highly-rated goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev who could soon be following Arshavin to the Premiership if reports linking him with Manchester United are to be believed. Hiddink has broadened his attacking options by recalling Dmitry Sychev of Lokomotiv Moscow, while defender Dennis Kolodin returns to the squad after more than two months out with a hamstring injury.

Underdogs Slovenia defied the FIFA rankings to finish above World Cup regulars Poland and Czech Republic in a group eventually won by Slovakia and will therefore not be intimidated by taking on another European heavyweight in the form of Russia. Coach Matjaz Kek’s squad ply their club trade in a host of European leagues, with experienced defender Marko Suler and dangerous striker Zlatan Ljubijankic team-mates at Belgian side Gent and skipper Robert Koren currently starring in England with Championship outfit West Brom. With four successive wins under their belts, Slovenia are quietly confident of repeating their heroics of 2002 when they defied the odds and secured World Cup qualification for the first time in their history.

The visitors are unlikely to roll over easily, but it’s hard to go past a victory for Russia in this game. Hiddink’s side have the quality to secure a convincing win and ensure that next week’s trip to Maribor is nothing more than a formality.

Prediction: Russia 3-0 Slovenia