Moscow: Russia need a victory when they host Ireland on Tuesday to ensure they remain atop the tightest qualifying group for the European Championship.
Russia were criticized for wasted opportunities in Friday's 1-0 win over a young Macedonian team, and face a much tougher test against the Irish, who have not conceded a goal in their last six matches.
Russia are two points ahead of Ireland and Slovakia, who share second place with 14 points from seven games in Group B.
"It will be a different match compared to the one with Macedonia," Russia and Arsenal midfielder Andrei Arshavin said. "The Irish players will frequently use long passes. But at the same time they are not accustomed to playing on the artificial pitch."
Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given considers that to be "an unfair advantage."
"They're the only team in Europe who play on a plastic pitch," he said.
Russia coach Dick Advocaat was satisfied with the result on Friday and especially how his team played in the second half.
"We saw how we should play," Advocaat said. "We will have a difficult game on Tuesday - we need points."
Russia will have centre-back Sergei Ignashevich returning from suspension but will be without suspended midfielder Igor Denisov.
"He's an excellent player, a combative defensive midfielder," Advocaat said of Denisov. "But we have other players who can play in this position."
Ireland has a growing injury list ahead of the crunch match, with John O'Shea the latest player to pull out.
The versatile Sunderland defender withdrew because of calf and hip strains to join left-back Kevin Kilbane (back) and striker Shane Long (calf) on the injury list.
Winger Aiden McGeady and striker Kevin Doyle are struggling for full-match fitness after lengthy lay-offs while Given is nursing a back problem.
Ireland drew 0-0 with Slovakia on Friday, a blow to their qualification hopes, but assistant coach Marco Tardelli remains confident.
"We played against a very tough team - their world ranking is 10 places before us and they are in the same position as us in the table," he said. "The result was not very good for us, but we played very well in the second half. We missed three or four good opportunities and I think it is possible to go to Russia and play to win."
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is not expected to change his tactics in Moscow.
"No panic. There might be one day of disappointment after Slovakia, but then the confidence comes back," Trapattoni said.
"If we create the same opportunities, it's vital that we take them. I would have been more disappointed against Slovakia if we had not created chances but now, we need to score."
Russia are expected to have a sold-out crowd of 83,000.
Slovakia are at home against Armenia and also need a victory as they will host Russia in October. Armenia upset Slovakia 3-1 in Yerevan last October and will try to prove it was not an accident.
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