Poland will hope to avoid being on the wrong end of a major upset when they play host to minnows San Marino in Saturday's World Cup 2022 Qualifying battle.

Paulo Sousa's men find themselves outside of the top two in Group I after six games, while their visitors will be glad to see the back of yet another doomed qualification campaign.

Match preview

Even with Robert Lewandowski now unleashed against England amid his previous fitness woes, Poland had to rely on an unlikely source to salvage a point in their clash with the Three Lions last month after Harry Kane had opened the scoring.

Two minutes into second-half injury time, AEK Athens midfielder Damian Szymanski headed home to end England's 100% start to Qualifying, but another two dropped points has harmed Poland's bid for only a second World Cup Finals appearance since 2010.

Having taken 11 points from a possible 18 in their six Group I games, Poland currently occupy third spot in the group behind leaders England and second-placed Albania, while fourth-placed Hungary are also breathing down their necks.

With England expected to ease to top spot by the close of Qualifying, Poland are firmly embroiled in a fight for second place and boosted their bid with crushing wins over Albania and San Marino last month, and they will certainly hope to see lightning strike twice against the former later this month.

Sousa's side are only able to boast a measly three wins from their last 13 games across all competitions, but their morale-depleted visitors could only dream of such a record as they endeavour to keep the scoreline as respectable as possible.

San Marino - the world's 210th and last-ranked nation - have seen their qualification campaign go largely as many expected with zero points, 24 goals conceded and only one chalked up at the correct end of the pitch.

Nicola Nanni's shock goal against Poland represents the thinnest of silver linings for the microstate in World Cup 2022 Qualifying - even if his side were already 4-0 down before he slotted home - while their most recent game ended in a comprehensive 5-0 defeat to Albania.

Having lost their last nine in a row since managing to hold Gibraltar to a goalless draw in the Nations League 11 months ago - only the seventh game in San Marino's history where they did not lose - San Marino have proven easy pickings for their Group I opponents and must also face Hungary and England again before Qualifying is done and dusted.

Furthermore, the visitors have only ever drawn three matches away from home - two of which came against Liechtenstein - and they have conceded a staggering 23 goals in their last five games away from home.

Nanni's goal against Poland paled into insignificance with regards to the table last time the two sides met - which ended in a 7-1 win for Sousa's men - and Franco Varrella will not be expecting any miracles on the PGE Narodowy turf this week.

Team News

Poland have been hit with several withdrawals ahead of the visit of San Marino, with Maciej Rybus, Arkadiusz Reca, Nicola Zalewski and Bartlomiej Dragowski no longer playing any part in this month's fixtures.

The likes of Kamil Glik, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Karol Linetty may be spared for this game after picking up yellow cards against England, allowing Sousa to hand fringe and youth players the chance to impress, including rumoured Liverpool target Kacper Kozlowski.

Szymanski could be rewarded with a start against the minnows after his heroics against England, while Sousa must decide whether to unleash Lewandowski or hand Krzysztof Piatek the chance to increase his tally of eight goals from 18 caps.

San Marino midfielders Marcello Mularoni and Lorenzo Lunadei are both available for this game after serving suspensions against Albania, and at least one of the duo could return to the engine room this week.

Nanni will lead the line as one of only five players to ply their trade outside of San Marino - with the 21-year-old on the books at Serie C side Lucchese - while Cesena goalkeeper Elia Benedettini should act as the last line of defence.

Poland possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Dawidowicz, Bednarek, Helik; Bereszynski, Szymanski, Moder, Kozlowski, Frankowski; Piatek, Buksa

San Marino possible starting lineup:
Benedettini; Battistini, Brolli, Simoncini, Fabbri, Grandoni; Zafferani, Mularoni, E. Golinucci, Vitaioli; Nanni

We say: Poland 5-0 San Marino

Poland boss Sousa ought to take this opportunity to shuffle the pack and give up-and-coming players the chance to stake their claim for further appearances, but there should only be one result come the full-time whistle.

San Marino may have scored a historic goal in their most recent clash with Poland, but the visitors are surely headed for another crushing defeat this weekend.

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