Speed focused on 'crucial' qualifier

Speed says Wales will be looking to win the match in Belgrade

Gary Speed believes the Euro 2004 qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro will be his most important Wales match for a decade.

Wales play in Belgrade on 20 August knowing that a win will give them a five point lead over main rivals Italy with only three Group Nine games to play.

Speed played in the 2-1 defeat against Romania in 1993 when Wales failed to secure World Cup qualification at the final hurdle.

And the Wales captain says he is determined not to let another golden opportunity slip through his fingers.

"Serbia and Montenegro have had a lot of disruptions, but I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing for us," he told BBC Sport.

"We've got to make sure we perform and hopefully we can win the game. That will give us a five point cushion going into the Italy game (6 September).

It's in our hands and we're up to the task Gary Speed on Euro 2004 qualification

"So for that reason alone it makes it a massive game for us."

Wales manager Mark Hughes will announce his provisional squad for Serbia on Monday.

The fixture was postponed by Uefa from its original date because of civil unrest in Belgrade following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.

Robbie Savage, Mark Delaney and Danny Gabbison would have missed the match in April because of injury, but all three have regained fitness to give Hughes a rare slice of luck in a qualifying campaign disrupted by outside forces.

Paul Jones is also likely to start the season in goal for Southampton after having been forced to play second fiddle to Antti Niemi for most of last season.

Matthew Jones has been ruled our for four months

The only set-back for Hughes is the latest injury for Leicester midfielder Matthew Jones. A back injury will force 23-year-old to miss the remaining qualifiers.

Fifa refused to classify the Serbia match as a 'competitive' meaning Hughes can only call the players from their clubs 48-hours before kick-off.

But the majority of the players will be released on Saturday evening after the afternoon club matches.

The only exceptions are Speed and Craig Bellamy who will be playing in Newcastle's match at Leeds United. Speed, though, does not foresee any problems.

He said: "It won't make a difference to myself or Craig because we're both fit lads.

"At that stage of the season, to play two games in four days won't be that demanding.

"Once we get into that game in Belgrade, tiredness will not be on your mind. Hopefully we'll get a result out there.

"Apart from the Romania game, it's the biggest game that I can remember as a Wales player.

"But it's in our hands and we're up to the task."