Five talking points ahead of Serbia v Wales
Wales head to Serbia four points adrift of the Group D leaders at the halfway stage of their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
They will also be without main man Gareth Bale as the Real Madrid forward is suspended for the Belgrade clash.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at some key talking points ahead of the contest.
Coping without Bale
Gareth Bale has not missed a competitive match for Wales in more than three years (David Davies/PA)
Wales have not been without talisman Bale for a competitive game since October 2013. During that 21-game run Wales ended a 58-year wait to play at a major tournament and then reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016. Baleās influence has been huge in that time, the 27-year-old providing leadership skills as well as numerous match-winning moments. Baleās pace on the break will be sorely missed in Belgrade and, although his likely replacement Tom Lawrence is no slouch, Wales will need muscular centre-forward Sam Vokes to hold the ball up and bring others into the game.
Time for Ramsey to step up
Aaron Ramsey
Central to flourishing without Bale will be the performance of Aaron Ramsey. The Arsenal playmaker finished an injury-hit domestic season on a high with the winner in the FA Cup final against Chelsea. Ramsey also broke a record in that game for the amount of ground covered in an FA Cup final and his energy and vision will be vital in the heat of Belgrade. He stood up in Baleās absence when an under-strength Wales side held Belgium 1-1 in Brussels over three years ago and must do so again.
Laying the ghosts of Novi Sad
Wales v Serbia
The lowest moment of manager Chris Colemanās five-year reign came in September 2012 when Wales were crushed 6-1 by Serbia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier. Serbia chose not to take Wales back to Novi Sad, the scene of that embarrassment, but Coleman admitted the painful memories came flooding back when he stepped off the plane for his Belgrade reccie. Several members of the squad were also part of that Novi Sad nightmare and must forget about that experience if Wales are to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Colemanās tactical call
Chris Coleman has a dilemma on his hands ahead of the game in Belgrade (Joe Giddens/PA)
Wales remain unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, but four successive draws have left them playing catch-up on top two Serbia and the Republic of Ireland. A four-point deficit is not insurmountable at the halfway stage, but Wales can surely not afford another defeat if they are to win Group D. So does Coleman park a rather large Belgrade bus in the hope that a draw and winning the final four group games will be enough? Or does he show real attacking intent in the belief that a shock win can really turn the group on its head?
Belgrade hostility
Serbia fans
Few parts of the football world do hostility like the Balkans - and Belgrade is no different. Serbia have struggled to attract decent crowds in the past, but ā with World Cup prospects looking positive ā over 40,000 are expected at the Rajko Mitic Stadium this time. Players have a three-minute walk through a graffiti-strewn tunnel to just reach the pitch. And flares, fires and well-armed police are a usual staple of matches played at the former Red Star Stadium, which is also known as the āMarakanaā.
