Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Saturday, 13 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Wales can take another step towards securing a top-two finish in their World Cup qualifying group when they host Belarus on Saturday.

Wales are already guaranteed a play-off place having won their Nations League group last year.

But to have any chance of a home draw they must finish second in their World Cup qualifying group, for which victory over Belarus is vital.

"It is great to know that we have a play-off," said Wales boss Rob Page.

"It feels very good and takes the pressure off a little bit.

"At the moment we have two games left [against Belarus and Belgium] and an opportunity to give us a more favourable tie in a play-off.

"Our full aim is on that, we want to finish second and win both games.

"We want to build that momentum and take it into March."

Wales could theoretically qualify automatically - they are five points behind Group E leaders Belgium with two games to go - but they would need the world's number one ranked side to lose to Estonia as well as to Page's men in Cardiff.

Therefore, the play-offs are Wales' likeliest route to a first World Cup since 1958.

They can secure a top-two finish with four points from their final two qualifiers at home to Belarus on Saturday and Belgium on Tuesday.

That would enhance their chances of - but not guarantee - a home draw in the play-offs.

Team news

Having been depleted for their matches in September and October, Wales have a healthier looking squad for this fixture.

The most notable returning player is captain Gareth Bale, who has recovered from a torn hamstring and is set to win his 100th cap.

"There is a lot of dialogue going on with the medical team and Gareth himself," said Page.

"Everybody has to be 100% on board and he has to be comfortable himself.

"He has pushed himself and he is 100% at this moment in time and more than happy to start the games.

"We just have to manage the minutes accordingly after that. We will see how he goes after the first game and take it from there."

Tottenham defender Ben Davies is also back, but Cardiff City striker Kieffer Moore is suspended.

Eight Wales players are one yellow card away from suspension. They are Chris Gunter, James Lawrence, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Allen, Joe Morrell, Harry Wilson, Sorba Thomas and Aaron Ramsey.

If any of those are booked against Belarus, they will be suspended for Tuesday's match against Belgium.

Any players who avoid a caution against Belarus but are booked against Belgium will be banned for the play-off semi-final in March, played over one leg - but it is believed Uefa's member associations are lobbying for that rule to be changed.

Match facts

  • Wales have won five of their six matches against Belarus, including a 3-2 victory in September with Gareth Bale scoring a hat-trick in Kazan.
  • Belarus' only victory over Wales came back in September 2000 in Minsk in a World Cup qualifier, winning 2-1 with Gary Speed scoring a 90th minute consolation goal for the Welsh.
  • Wales have scored a winning goal in the final 10 minutes of three of their six games against Belarus: Kit Symons in the 84th minute (October 1998, Euro qualifier), Ryan Giggs in the 86th minute (September 1999, Euro qualifier) and Gareth Bale in the 90th minute (September 2021, World Cup qualifier).
  • After winning their opening World Cup 2022 qualifier against Estonia, Belarus have lost their past six by an aggregate score of 17-2.
  • Wales have only lost one of their past 17 home matches in qualifying for major tournaments, a 1-0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland in October 2017. They have not conceded more than once in any of those 17 games, shipping just six overall.
  • Belarus have lost their past 14 away World Cup qualifiers since winning 5-1 in Kazakhstan in April 2009. Among European nations, only San Marino (25) are on a longer losing run in away World Cup qualifiers than the Belarussians.
  • Since his debut in September 2019, striker Kieffer Moore is Wales' top scorer with seven goals. He has also received nine yellow cards, four more than any other Wales player.
  • Belarus' Vitali Lisakovich has been directly involved in four of their six goals in this World Cup qualifying campaign (three goals, one assist) and has had the most shots (nine), created the most chances (eight) and played the most passes into the box (26) of any Belarus player so far.