Fernando Couto is back as captain of Portugal after a drugs suspension for the Group Two qualifier against Estonia today, a game that should guarantee his country's first appearance in the World Cup finals since 1986.
"I am happy to be back once again and put an end to that whole problem (doping). I hope Saturday is a day of celebration, that everything goes well so we can create an unforgettable day for everyone in Portugal," Couto told reporters.
The Lazio defender, who tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in April, is free to play again after his suspension was cut from 10 months to four.
He and Real Madrid's Luis Figo are Portugal's most capped players with 77 international appearances.
The game is being staged at Benfica's Stadium of Light which is considered a lucky arena - Portugal have clinched qualification for the European Championship there three times.
"We want the Portuguese, just as they have done before, to fill the 75,000 seats in Luz Stadium, which is a magic stadium," the coach of the national team, Antonio Oliveira said.
But the stadium - the venue for so many nights of domestic and European glory for Benfica - will be hosting its last international before its demolition.
It will be replaced by a new complex for the 2004 European Championships.
Victory in the final qualifier will almost certainly confirm Portugal as winners of European Group Two, clinching their place in next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea. They are level on 21 points with the Republic of Ireland, who play Cyprus today, but have a superior goal difference (21 to 14).
But Oliveira warned against over-confidence.
"Experience tells me the worst thing one can do is to burn one's fingers by setting off fireworks before they are due," he said.
AC Milan's Rui Costa is also back from a month's absence with a hand injury.
"We will be the golden generation Portuguese soccer if we get into the World Cup," Costa said.
He and team mates Figo, Couto, Joao Pinto and Jorge Costa were part of the world under-20 champions in 1991, a title won at the stadium, and the side that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2000.
"The so-called golden generation lacks a world championship and for some of us this will be the last chance," Rui Costa said.
Portugal have only qualified for the World Cup finals in 1966 and 1986.
Oliveira, with wingers Ricardo Sa Pinto and Sergio Conceicao injured, will keep striker Nuno Gomes on the bench. He came on as a substitute in the match with Andorra and scored four goals in Portugal's 7-1 win.
Portugal should line up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Rui Costa as playmaker and Figo and Joao Pinto supporting Bordeaux striker Pedro Pauleta.
Estonia coach Arno Pijpers has named a 19-man squad, but Flora midfielder Mark Shvets is out because of a knee injury. He has been replaced by Dmitri Ustritski, a forward from Estonian premier league team Viljandi Tulevik.
Forward Andres Oper, currently at Denmark's AaB Aalborg, is doubtful after hurting his thigh a week ago during a Danish premier league game.
He has not trained with the ball since.
PROBABLE TEAMS: PORTUGAL - Ricardo Pereira; Nuno Frechaut, Fernando Couto, Jorge Costa, Rui Jorge; Armando Petit, Rui Costa, Nuno Capucho, Luis Figo, Joao Pinto; Pedro Pauleta.
ESTONIA: Martin Kaalma; Erko Saviauk, Andrei Stepanov, Raio Piiroja, Urmas Rooba; Martin Reim, Dmitri Ustritski, Jevgeni Novikov, Indrek Zelinski; Kristen Viikmae, Andres Oper.
Referee: H Strampe (Germany).
