Steve Lomas claims Northern Ireland will be out to restore pride when they tackle Moldova in today's win-or-bust qualifier.
The North's captain felt they were the better team when the sides drew 2-2 at Windsor Park in November and intends to prove that in the rematch in Chisinau's Republic Stadium.
Northern Ireland desperately need to beat Moldova to revive their flagging hopes of qualification.
Saturday's 3-0 defeat against Germany in Belfast leaves Lawrie McMenemy's team fourth in Group Three with four points from four games.
Although Moldova are the group's whipping boys, Lomas does not expect an easy ride in Chisinau.
Wales lost there 3-2 in October 1994, and in their four group matches Moldova have found the back of the net with greater ease than the North. They have scored five goals compared to Northern Ireland's three, including the two at Windsor Park.
McMenemy's side twice had to come from behind to salvage a point that night, and Lomas knows the Moldovans are no pushovers.
"They're no mugs and they played very well at our place, although we felt we were the better team at Windsor Park," he said.
The North have struggled on their travels in recent years, and their last away win was back in October 1995 in Liechtenstein.
Lomas admits they have not won enough games away from home and said: "It's tough to win away, and that goes for anybody.
"It's just one of those things, and there have been times when we have gone away and got some decent results, like the draws in Portugal and Germany.
"But it's true that we have not won away often enough."
The Moldovans have selection problems going into the game, and defenders Ion Tabanov and Oleg Sischin are suspended while Ion Testimitanu is injured.
There is some confusion over the eligibility of captain and star player Alexandru Curtianu, who plays for Hamburg. McMenemy claims he is suspended after he was sent off at Windsor Park, but the Moldovans insist he is free to play.
For Northern Ireland, Keith Gillespie should start, even though he is not fully fit, and Michael Hughes will play his penultimate match before his double hernia operation.
Scotland's qualifier against the Czech Republic looked to be turning into a grudge match when the visiting players snubbed the media on their arrival yesterday.
The Euro '96 runners-up ignored journalists and cancelled a press conference ahead of the Group Nine encounter at Celtic Park.
Czech journalists said it was in retaliation for Scottish newspaper stories allegedly misquoting Patrik Berger and goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek.
Berger was reported as saying his team-mates would need ice-hockey outfits to avoid injury, while Srnicek criticised Scotland's four English-born players for adopting a "flag of convenience".
Srnicek had accused Matt Elliott, Don Hutchison and goalkeepers Neil Sullivan and Jonathan Gould, who all qualify through having Scottish grandparents, of being second-rate.
"I suppose if they don't get the chance to play for their own country, then some players will take it if another country offers them a chance," Srnicek was quoted as saying.
Scotland coach Craig Brown tried to dampen down the hostility, saying: "I don't want to get drawn into a war of words. We will do our talking on the pitch."
Because of injuries, Brown has been forced to call on midfielders Eoin Jess and Neil McCann to spearhead Scotland's attack.
Brown, who watched the Czechs' 2-0 home win over Lithuania on Saturday, said: "I didn't see anything which surprised or worried me. As long as we do not lose at Celtic Park, I am still confident we can qualify."
The Czech Republic have a maximum 12 points from four matches while Scotland are in second place on seven points and with a game in hand.
Czech coach Jozef Chovanec has been forced into one change because of the suspension of Tomas Repka and will probably bring in central defender Karel Rada.
"It will be a difficult game, but it is possible we can win. The Scots are a strong team, but their defence did not look good when they conceded two goals at home to Estonia," he said.
Gary Speed has seen the good, the bad and the ugly in a decade of endeavour for Wales. Now he believes his country is on the brink of some rare good times. Speed wins his 50th cap today when he leads Wales into their Swiss showdown.
"A lot of people have made a conscious effort to get things right; now we dare not throw it all away."
The Newcastle star, whose club season is moving towards more personal triumphs with a possible second successive FA Cup Final, desperately wants to lead Wales to glory too.
Their first qualification for a major finals since 1958 is tantalisingly close after stunning back-to-back victories last October against Denmark and Belarus.
Now Switzerland, galvanised by Saturday's win in Belarus, are next in line in Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium - and Speed is demanding no slip-ups.
World player-of-the-year Zinedine Zidane has been ruled out of France's qualifying match against Armenia today. The 27-year-old Juventus midfielder, who has been out of action for three weeks following a knee injury, also missed last Saturday's 0-0 group four qualifier with Ukraine in Stade de France.
