Tunisia finished top spot in Group 5 of the African Zone and pip rivals Morocco in the very last round of games. Tunisia's leading striker Francileudo dos Santos will miss their opening game of the World Cup against Saudi Arabia and possibly the second against Spain as well with a shin injury. Tunisia's influential Brazilian-born striker Francileudo dos Santos is ruled out for this match. They have already replaced two injured players since arriving in Germany, defender Mehdi Meriah and striker Issam Jemaa.

The Saudis chalked up ten wins and two draws in their 12 games to top Group A with 14 points ahead of Korea Republic. Saudi Arabia should be at full strength. Experienced skipper Sami Al Jaber has been struggling with a thigh muscle injury but should be fit to play in his fourth World Cup.

Tunisia and Saudi Arabia meet in an "Arab Derby". History is not on the three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia, as they have lost their opening game on each of their three previous finals appearances, USA 1994, France 1998 and 2002 Korea/Japan. Tunisia qualified from a very much tougher African contingent have the edge and should be backed @ -1/2 ball handicap.

Tunisia : coach Roger Lemerre (French)

Goalkeepers: 1 BOUMNIJEL Ali(Club Africain, TUN), 16 NEFZI Adel(US Monastir, TUN), 22 KASRAOUI Hamdi(Esperance, TUN)

Defenders: 3 HAGGUI Karim(Strasbourg, FRA), 4 YAHIA Alaeddine(Saint-Etienne, FRA), 6 TRABELSI Hatem(Ajax, NED), 7 MERIAH Mehdi(ES du Sahel, TUN), 15 JAIDI Radh(Bolton Wanderers, ENG)i, 18 JEMMALI David(Bordeaux, FRA), 19 AYARI Anis(Samsunspor, TUR), 21 SAIDI Karim(Lecce, ITA)

Midfielders: 8 NAFTI Mehdi(Birmingham City, ENG), 10 GHODHBANE Kaies(Konyaspor, TUR), 12 MNARI Jaouhar(Nuremberg, GER), 13 BOUAZIZI Riadh(Erciyesspor, TUR), 14 CHEDLI Adel(Nuremberg, GER), 20 NAMOUCHI Hamed(Rangers, SCO), 23 MELLITI Sofiane(Gaziantepspor, TUR)

Forwards: 2 ESSEDIRI Karim(Rosenborg, NOR), 5 JAZIRI Zied(Troyes, FRA), 9 CHIKHAOUI Yassine(ES du Sahel, TUN), 11 SANTOS(Toulouse, FRA), 17 JOMAA Issam(Lens, FRA)

Saudi Arabia : coach Marcos Cesar Dias Castro (Brazilian)

Goalkeepers: 1 AL DEAYEA Mohammed(Al Hilal, KSA), 21 ZAID MabroukIttihad, KSA), 22 KHOJAH Mohammad(Al Shabab, KSA)

Defenders: 2 DOKHI Ahmed(Al Ittihad, KSA), 3 TUKAR Redha(Al Ittihad, KSA), 4 AL MONTASHARI Hamad(Al Ittihad, KSA), 5 AL QADI Naif(Al Ahli, KSA), 12 KHATHRAN Abdulaziz(Al Hilal, KSA), 13 SULIMANI Hussein(Al Ahli, KSA), 15 AL BAHRI Ahmed(Al Ittifaq, KSA)

Midfielders: 6 AL GHAMDI Omar(Al Hilal, KSA), 7 AMEEN Mohammed(Al Ittihad, KSA), 8 NOOR Mohammed(Al Ittihad, KSA), 10 AL SHLHOUB Mohammad(Al Hilal, KSA), 14 KHARIRI Saud(Al Ittihad, KSA), 16 AZIZ Khaled(Al Hilal, KSA), 18 AL TEMYAT Nawaf(Al Hilal, KSA), 19 MASSAD Mohammed(Al Ahli, KSA)

Forwards: 9 AL JABER Sami(Al Hilal, KSA), 11 AL HARTHI Saad(Al Nasr, KSA), 17 AL ANBAR Mohammed(Al Hilal, KSA), 20 AL KAHTANI Yaser(Al Hilal, KSA), 23 MOUATH Malek(Al Ahli, KSA)

Probable lineups:

Tunisia (4-4-2):
1-Ali Boumnijel (48-0); 6-Hatem Trabelsi (56-1), 15-Radhi Jaidi (89-5), 3-Karim Hagui (27-4), 18-David Jemmali (2-0); 20-Hamed Namouchi (14-1), 12-Joahar Mnari (39-1), 14-Adel Chedli (40-4), 13-Riadh Bouazizi (89-4); 5-Ziad Jaziri (61-13), 9-Yassine Chikhaoui (1-0)

Saudi Arabia (4-5-1):
1-Mohamed Al Deayea (181-0), 3-Redha Tuker (37-6), 13-Hussein Sulaimani (97-3), 4-Hamad Al Montashari (32-6), 2-Ahmed Dokhi (68-4); 14-Saud Al Khariri (34-12), 7-Mohamed Ameen (16-7), 8-Mohamed Noor (63-22), 10-Mohammad Al Shalhoub (48-15), 9-Sami Al Jaber (160-43); 20-Yassir Al Qahtani (45-32)