Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy will pin his hopes of avoiding an avalanche of goals against the Czech Republic on the Wimbledon defender Mark Williams. The 30-year-old is recalled for the daunting Group Three match in Teplice today (BBC2, kick-off 4.0) after missing Saturday's defeat by Bulgaria through suspension.

McIlroy is without 10 players who would normally feature. Norwich City midfielder Philip Mulryne will also be in the starting line-up in place of the suspended Celtic player Neil Lennon. "We knew there would definitely be two changes from Saturday's team, with Keith Gillespie and Neil Lennon both suspended," said McIlroy. "I know Mark will bring leadership and experience to the defence, which is what we are going to need." Dundee United's Danny Griffin will partner Mulryne in the centre of the midfield, which, with Stuart Elliott and Damien Johnson playing on the flanks, will have an average age of 23.

NORTHERN IRELAND (probable): Taylor (Fulham); Nolan (Bradford), A Hughes (Newcastle), Murdock (Preston), Williams (Wimbledon), Mulryne (Norwich), Griffin (Dundee Utd), Johnson (Blackburn), Elliott (Motherwell), Healy (Preston), M Hughes (Wimbledon).

Wales

How best to handle the blossoming career of Spurs star Simon Davies will be the key factor in Mark Hughes's mind as he prepares Wales for their toughest World Cup test under his command. Hughes is in no doubt about the ability of the 21-year-old, but has some reservations over giving him a debut in Kiev today against an under-achieving yet fearsome Ukraine side.

"Ukraine are a very good team and I don't want to throw the kids in and see them struggle. I'd rather wait for the right occasion," said Hughes. Qualification is still a distant prospect, even if goalless draws all round at the weekend for their group opponents did revive hopes. However, if Wales lose in Kiev and Belarus win in Norway, it is all over.

Wales need a midfield replacement for Robbie Savage and Hughes' selection problems could also be further confused by the injury doubts over both his full-backs, Mark Delaney (hamstring) and Darren Barnard (toe).

WALES (probable): P Jones (Southampton); Delaney (Aston Villa), Page (Watford), Melville (Fulham), Barnard (Barnsley), M Jones (Leicester City), Speed (Newcastle United), Pembridge (Everton), Giggs (Manchester United), Hartson (Coventry City), Blake (Bolton Wanderers).