World Cup winners Italy and runners-up France can take significant steps towards the Euro 2008 finals before the curtain falls on the international season tonight.
Italy, who squeaked a narrow 2-1 win in the Faroe Islands in their Group B match on Saturday, will be keen to beat Lithuania in Vilnius after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against them in their opening qualifier in Naples last September.
Fullback Gianluca Zambrotta is expected to return after recovering from a knee problem. Italian coach Roberto Donadoni could also bring in several other players after many of his side misfired in Saturday's laboured 2-1 win in the Faroe Islands.
Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi was ineffective in the alien position of left wing against the Faroes and Alessandro Del Piero looked off the pace in the wind and the rain.
Sampdoria's Fabio Quagliarella, Udinese's Antonio Di Natale and Livorno's Cristiano Lucarelli are all pushing for starts in the forward line alongside Filippo Inzaghi, who netted both goals in the Faroes.
Midfield enforcer Gennaro Gattuso had a difficult game on Saturday and picked up a yellow card, which may lead Donadoni to leave him out of the match in Kaunas given Italy's next match is September's home qualifier against group leaders France.
France, who lead Italy by two points and beat Ukraine 2-0 in Paris on Saturday, are also expected to be too strong for visitors Georgia in Auxerre as they bid to cement their place at the top of the group.
France beat Georgia 3-0 in their opening qualifier nine months ago and lead the standings with 15 points from six matches, followed by Italy on 13 and Ukraine and Scotland on 12.
For tonight's game, France coach Raymond Domenech will be without goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, who left France's training camp on Sunday with an abdomen injury.
Centre back William Gallas, who is suffering thigh pains, is very doubtful and could be replaced by Sevilla's Julien Escude.
Scotland should move above Ukraine, who are not playing, when they make the short flight across the North Atlantic to the Faroes.
Reigning European champions Greece, who have also made an excellent start to their campaign, should pick up another three points when they face Moldova in Crete in their bid to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland and defend their title. They will finish the season top of Group C no matter the outcome of today's games.
Greece are two points ahead of Turkey, who are not playing, and five clear of Bosnia who dramatically beat the Turks 3-2 with a late goal on Saturday.
Most of the teams leading their groups look set to end the first half of the qualifiers in top place, although Northern Ireland will probably be knocked off their perch in Group F.
Nigel Worthington's side, on 13 points from six matches, are without a game and either Sweden, who are at home to Iceland, or Spain, who visit Liechtenstein, can dislodge them.
Sweden have 12 points from five matches after Saturday's game with Denmark in Copenhagen was abandoned a minute from time after the referee was attacked by a drunken Danish fan with the score level at 3-3.
Uefa will decide on Friday on what action to take, but until then their official standings do not include Saturday's result.
Spain's Xavi is suspended for tonight's game while Cesc Fabregas could move into the creative role in midfield. David Silva and Joaquin have recovered from knocks and are expected to start on the flanks.
Liechtenstein, traditional whipping boys in such competitions, have had a positive run of late, taking four points from their last two games.
Poland, who travel to Armenia, are five points clear in Group A with a good chance of qualifying for the finals for the first time. Portugal and Serbia, who trail Poland in second and third places, are without a game.
Romania will be looking to pull away from the Netherlands at the top of Group G when they host Slovenia and Bulgaria could overtake the Dutch, who are not playing, if they beat Belarus.
Croatia, who have never lost a competitive match at home in 32 matches since 1994, host Russia in an intriguing game at the top of England's Group E.
The Croatians won 1-0 in Estonia on Saturday to stay top of a tight section, two points ahead of Israel and Russia.
