Los Albicelestes will be hoping to take a step closer towards Brazil 2014 against the South American champions.
Argentina and Uruguay, two star-studded sides, clash in what promises to be a mouth-watering South American World Cup qualifier in Mendoza, Argentina, on Friday.

The latest edition of the traditional River Plate derby brings together numerous household names, with the likes of World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and many more.

Argentina, who lead the South American World Cup qualifiers, come into the game as the favourites, and will be hoping to obtain another victory that would steer them closer towards Brazil 2014.

Meanwhile, Uruguay will be looking to escalate up the ladder after picking up just one point from their last two games, which included a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Colombia in Bogota last month.

Uruguay will have fond memories of the last time they visited Argentine territory, as last year they managed to eliminate the 2011 Copa America hosts in the knock-out stage of the competition on their way to a record fifteenth title.

Argentina will be hoping to bring those painful memories to an end, and will rate their chances of doing exactly this under Alejandro Sabella.

The former Estudiantes de La Plata coach appears to have changed the face of the Argentine national team, but admitted to the press that "it isn't easy" to mould together a solid defensive unit in such a short space of time.

The coach is expected to field a four-man back-line, to close-down Uruguay's forceful three-man attack, which consists of Suarez, Forlan and Edinson Cavani.

Sabella understands the need to have a strong defence, but is also aware that if Argentina want to win the game, they have to take full advantage of their offensive strength. He has confirmed that Messi, Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain will feature in Argentina's starting eleven.

Oscar Tabarez, the coach of Uruguay, is unlikely to make many changes to his usual side, but he will be forced to replace the injured Diego Perez with Inter Milan midfielder Walter Gargano.

The Uruguayans face an extremely difficult challenge, and would be more than happy to return home with a point.