SINGAPORE will host Tajikistan in the 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifying second-round first-leg match at the National Stadium tonight.
This is the first time the two sides have faced each other at international level.
Singapore are currently in 140th spot in the Fifa world rankings while Tajikistan are in 152nd position.
In Asia, Singapore are 24th while their counterparts are 27th.
Yesterday, Singapore Pools opened its market by placing Singapore as favourites at $1.70.
A few years ago, you wouldn't want to back Singapore at such a price. But in recent years, Singapore, led by the shrewd coaching of Radajko Avramovic and the inclusion of foreign talent, have become backable.
Even Avramovic admitted at yesterday's press conference that this is the best team he has had since he took over in 2003.
This year, Singapore have played a total of 14 matches winning five, drawing six and losing just three - to Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The Lions have scored in eight out of their 10 home matches.
Morale in the Lions camp is high especially after they beat Palestine 4-0 in Doha three weeks ago.
The same starting XI will take the field and that means skipper Aide Iskandar will miss out with striker Indra Sahdan ready to lead the Lions.
Current S-League leading goalscorer Aleksandar Duric, who has scored 42 goals so far this season, could earn his first Singapore cap in the latter stages of the game.
THRASHING
Meanwhile, Tajikistan come into this game having played just four games this year. They won just once, in the 5-0 thrashing of Bangladesh two weeks ago.
Having arrived on Tuesday after a 16-hour journey, Tajikistan held five training sessions prior to tonight's game.
Their only worry, as pointed out by coach Khabibulloev Makhmadjon, was the climate difference as they are accustomed to temperatures near 10 deg C back home.
Ten members of the 18-man squad were part of the winning side at the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup.
All the players in the current squad play their football in the Tajikistan first division.
The stars of the team are veteran goalkeeper Mukanin Aleksandr, playmaker Vasiev Dilshod and chief striker Hakimov Numondzhon.
Numondzhon looks particularly impressive after scoring a hat-trick against Bangladesh. The CSKA Dushanbe striker will lead the line in what is expected to be a defensive 4-5-1 formation.
Neither side has players suspended.
Singapore defender Noh Rahman and midfielder Shi Jiayi were both nursing slight knocks earlier in the week but should be fit to start.
Tajikistan defender Farkhod Vasiev, who plays his football with Russian first division club FC Saturn Ramenskoe, did not travel with the team.
What the coaches say
SINGAPORE
FOLLOWING a successful outing against Palestine, Singapore coach Radajko Avramovic will make no changes to his starting lineup.
'I'll be sticking to with the same starting eleven that played against Palestine in Doha,' said Avramovic. 'They did very well in that match and deserve to start this game.'
Avramovic admitted the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup champions will be a tough nut to crack.
'While we are playing against a team we do not know much of, we must be prepared to adapt to changes during the game if we have to,' said Avramovic.
'This tie is essentially split into two halves. At the end of Friday's match, it will only be half-time. We are looking to take one match at a time.'
Skipper Indra Sahdan added: 'Morale is high in the team. We have been training together over the past few weeks and are looking forward to this game.
'We can qualify for the next round if we can get a good result in the first leg.'
TAJIKISTAN
TAJIKISTAN coach Khabibulloev Makhmadjon revealed he knew little about the Singapore team.
'We don't have much information of Singapore but we know they are a good team,' said Makhmadjon.
'Some of our best players are not here as well as they are either participating in AFC Under-19 youth tournament or have club commitments.
'This is an important game for both teams and we will try to get a good result.'
