Wales have been boosted by defender Danny Gabbidon passing a late fitness test on Wednesday morning.

The Cardiff City player has been troubled by a back injury and was considered a doubtful starter.

John Hartson will also start, despite a worrying tendonitis problem in the knee that saw him last just 10 minutes of training on Tuesday.

Wales' squad has been ravaged with injuries, while arguments with English clubs over player availability have left manager Mark Hughes fuming.

But Welsh football is on such a high that fans will expect nothing less than another three points - a result that would see the team move five points clear at the top of group nine.

Wales' major problem would seem to be bolstering an injury-ravaged midfield, where they will be missing Mark Pembridge, Robbie Savage and Craig Bellamy, plus favoured replacements Andy Johnson and Jason Koumas.

Hughes said: "We have lost a lot in midfield, but we have internationals who can come in.

"My initial thought is not to change the side any more than I have to - we have had enough disruption already."

This would suggest that the manager will stick by his 4-5-1 formation with Gary Speed continuing at left-back.

Likely options include bringing Robert Earnshaw onto the right-wing in place of Craig Bellamy, with Carl Robinson and Paul Evans bolstering the central midfield.

Azerbaijan will be without leading striker Gurban Gurbanov and player of the year Zaur Tagizade, who are both injured.

Emin and Kamal Guliyev are suspended, but veteran Arif Asadov and the untried Namig Hasanov are included.

Although Azerbaijan troubled Italy in Baku before losing 2-0, football in the country is in crisis, with national coach Asgar Abdullayev claiming he does not want the job.

"It seems that no one in this country cares about football except coaches like me. Now we can only believe in Allah and prepare the team to face Wales," said Abdullayev.

"Everyone else refused the job, but my friends came to me and said if I didn't take it on, who would?"

Wales (probable side): Jones, Delaney, Melville, Gabbidon, Speed, Earnshaw, Davies, Robinson, Evans, Giggs, Hartson.