CARDIFF (AFP) - Form, fitness and Robbie Savage's short fuse have all conspired against Wales in the build-up to their World Cup qualifier against England at Old Trafford on Saturday.
While Sven-Goran Eriksson has been able to welcome the world class trio of Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Wayne Rooney back into his squad, outgoing Wales boss Mark Hughes has been struggling to put together a side comprised of players currently turning out regularly for their clubs.
First choice goalkeeper Paul Jones had been axed by Wolves, Cardiff defender Robert Page is ruled out with a rib injury and fellow centre-back Andy Melville has been kicking his heels on the West Ham bench.
Promising young defender James Collins cannot get into the Cardiff team and Robbie Earnshaw -- the Wales player of the year -- is still struggling to adapt to life in the Premiership with West Brom.
Perhaps most importantly, Hughes will have do without Savage's bite in midfield, the midfielder being suspended after being sent off in an ill-tempered 2-2 draw with Northern Ireland last month that left the Welsh with just two points from their first two matches in group six.
But Savage himself believes the string of setbacks has not been enough to kill Welsh hopes of a famous victory in the first meeting between the two neighbours since a 20-year-old Hughes gave Wales a 1-0 victory in 1984.
The Birmingham midfielder is confident that Wales have the ability to score, particularly if, as he anticipates will be the case, Ryan Giggs is firing on all cylinders in the stadium he has graced for over a decade.
Born in Cardiff but raised a few miles from Old Trafford, Giggs, famously, represented England schoolboys before opting to play for his native country at senior level.
"For years Ryan has had to face questions like 'why didn't you choose to play for England?' because he would have no chance of playing in a major tournament," said Savage.
"But that's like an insult to us Welsh lads. Now Ryan has the opportunity with the other boys on the field to make it count against England when it really matters.
"I'm confident he will be really on song which could be bad news for England because everyone knows what he is capable of. When Giggsy is at his best, he is someone who can be unstoppable."
Savage added: "I think the key for us is going to be how well we defend. With John Hartson, Craig Bellamy, Ryan Giggs and Simon Davies, I think we can score against anyone in the world. If we defend well I think we'll win."
Fulham's Mark Pembridge is expected to come in for Savage in a midfield bolstered by Davies's return to action for Tottenham -- one of the rare pieces of good news that Hughes has had over the last month.
Jones's slump in form is a particular concern but Hughes has limited options in the goalkeeping department with both Mark Crossley and Darren Ward both currently in the reserves at Fulham and Norwich.
Melville, 35, was left out of the Northern Ireland match and his current lack of match sharpness could see him miss out again if Hughes opts to switch Aston Villa's Mark Delaney from rightback to the centre of defence.
The veteran defender remains hopeful however about his chances of playing -- despite the daunting prospect of being run ragged by Wayne Rooney, whom he faced in his final Premiership match for Fulham in January.
"We ended up beating Everton 2-1 but to be honest Wayne frightened the life out of us that day and we know we'll have our work cut out to cope with him at Old Trafford on Saturday.
"It will be a big challenge for whoever plays but I still hope it's me," Melville added. "When you get to your mid-30s, you have to make the most of matches like this one. I've won 66 senior caps for Wales but I've never played against England so I hope to put that one straight."