For the past two years, Uzbekistan football has been almost all about champions Bunyodkor, who boast AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov, and fierce rivals Pakhtakor.

Indeed, apart from foreign players, the entire Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor first teams are national squad members.

These two clubs, both of whom are still in the AFC Champions League (ACL), were scheduled to face each other in the Uzbek League.

But the Uzbekistan Football Federation, acknowledging their commitment to the World Cup and ACL, agreed to postpone the clash, which has major title implications.

Bunyodkor, who were due to host their rivals at Jar stadium, lead the table with a maximum 30 points from 10 matches. Pakhtakor are four points behind in second.

Also postponed was the match between Neftchi and third-placed Nasaf because the former are involved in the AFC Cup.

Uzbekistan are fourth out of five teams in Group A of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They have four points from six matches but still only three points behind third-placed Bahrain.

Australia lead the group with 13 points from five matches, two points behind Japan. Only the top two teams qualify for the South Africa finals while the third-placed teams from Groups A and B enter a play-off.

The Uzbeks face Japan at home on June 6 before facing Bahrain away on June 17 in their final pool match.