Russia, who had their match against Georgia in Tbilisi last Saturday abandoned after 45 minutes due to floodlight failure, are again without three players through injury and illness for their tie against Albania in Volgograd today.
Full back Alexei Berezutsky and winger Andrei Karyaka are still out with leg injuries while Berezutsky's CSKA Moscow team-mate, central defender Vyacheslav Dayev, has flu. However, CSKA winger Andrei Solomatin, who strained a muscle in Saturday's game, has recovered in time to make the starting line-up.
The Russians, who have three points after beating the Republic of Ireland 4-2 in Moscow in their opener, are also missing long-term injury victims Yegor Titov and Marat Izmailov.
Albania's Italian coach Giuseppe Dossena has dropped striker Erion Bogdani for unspecified reasons, though the striker is not injured. Bogdani sat on the bench throughout Saturday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland as the coach replaced Brescia striker Igli Tare with Serie C debutant forward Florian Myrtaj. Defender Devis Mukaj is also out with flu.
Dossena says his side will be cautious, looking to strike on the counter-attack. "Everyone who has dared to attack the Russians, from Napoleon to Hitler, has left their bones," he told Sport Ekspress daily.
PROBABLE TEAMS
RUSSIA: Ovchinnikov; Nizhegorodov, Ignashevich, Smertin, Semak, Yanovsky, Onopko, Gusev, Loskov, Pimenov, Beschastnykh.
ALBANIA: Strakosha; Lala, Cipi, Xhumba, Fakaj, Hasi, Murati, Bushi, Duro, Vata, Tare.
Referee: L Sundell (Sweden)
