Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Asian qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ enters the final stages of the last round on Saturday 28 March as eight of the last ten teams resume battle on Matchday 6. While group leaders Australia and Korea Republic have a bye, their rivals are provided with a precious chance to move to the top of the standings.

In Group A, second-place Japan will surpass the Aussies by a sole point to top the section should they defeat Bahrain at home. At the same time, three points against the visiting United Arab Emirates will send Korea DPR to the top of Group B, while a home win against Saudi Arabia will see Iran return to the top two.

Matchday 6 fixtures:
28 March 2009

Group A: Japan-Bahrain, Uzbekistan-Qatar
Group B: Korea DPR-United Arab Emirates, Iran-Saudi Arabia

The big match
Iran-Saudi Arabia, Tehran
The legendary Azadi stadium will see two of Asia’s all-time powerhouses in a match viewed by both sides as a do-or-die contest. The encounter possesses all the elements necessary for a classic FIFA World Cup qualifier. Added to that, it marks the two sides’ ninth meeting across five FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns. Despite Iran’s record of three wins and three draws, the Saudis have emerged as the more successful side, having progressed to the world extravaganza at Team Melli’s expense on three of the past four occasions. Ali Daei’s team enter the rematch with two recent friendly wins and a 32-match unbeaten record at home, while coach Jose Peseiro’s side travel to Tehran without captain Yasser Al Qahtani, who is ruled out due to suspension.

The other games
Korea DPR-United Arab Emirates, Pyongyang
While Group B’s bottom side UAE are desperate to get three points against Korea DPR, they are aware that they have a mountain to climb in Pyongyang. Coach Dominique Bathaney’s side will have to overcome the tournament’s dark horses, a hostile home crowd, and Kim II Sung Stadium’s artificial turf, to seal their first win in the group. Honours have been even in the previous four qualifying meetings of the two sides, each coming up with a win and two draws. A win will see the home side take an astonishing lead in the group while UAE are desperately hoping to salvage a lifeline with three points.

Uzbekistan-Qatar, Tashkent
The match-up in Tashkent is the most unpredictable of all, given the notoriously inconsistent performances of the two sides. Both have proven more than capable of causing a major upset with Uzbekistan boasting a 3-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia in last year’s third qualifying round, while Qatar’s near-miss in qualifying for France 1998 shocked many observers. However, both sides can be frustratingly inconsistent, with Qatar found lacking with heavy losses against Australian and Japan, and the underachieving Uzbeks left languishing at the bottom of the standings with a single point.

Japan-Bahrain, Saitama
Having dominated their previous eight meetings with six wins, few would question Japan’s tag as favourites against Bahrain. However Bahrain, under coach Milan Macala, with two home wins over the East Asians in the past year, has stated their claim as serious contenders. The Gulf side broke their Japanese jinx with a 1-0 win in last March’s qualifying round before again stunning them by the same scoreline in a recent AFC Asian Cup qualifier. Boosted by their win against Uzbekistan in the last game, Macala’s side are edging closer to the summit and a win in Japan would see the Bahrainis become genuine challengers for an automatic qualification berth.

Player to watch
If experience counts for anything, Mehdi Mahdavikia’s return will enhance Iran’s hopes of defeating Saudi Arabia in Tehran. The immense knowledge the 31-year-old veteran midfielder has gained in Iran’s last three qualifying campaigns will be essential for Ali Daei’s new-look Team Melli. With captain Karim Bagheri unavailable after his announced temporary retirement and Ali Karimi failing to earn a call-up, the leadership burden will fall on the shoulders of the Eintracht Frankfurt man.

The words
"This match with Bahrain is our fifth qualifier and the one we have to go for. We’ll take risks where we have to. I’m only thinking about winning the match, nothing else." Takeshi Okada, Japan head coach.