NICOSIA - Russia coach Guus Hiddink insists his players will not relent in their quest to qualify for next year's Euro 2008 finals as they prepare for Saturday's crucial clash with Israel.
With victory over Andorra the following Wednesday being widely treated as a formality, a win in Tel Aviv on Saturday would all-but guarantee Russia a spot in next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland at the expense of Steve McClaren's England.
"We've seen Israel play a lot of matches", Hiddink told Russian newspaper Sport Express from the team's training camp in Cyprus.
"I wouldn't say their team has a pronounced leader, but they are a very strong opponent that can upset the mood of any side.
"But our team is moving forward and is not prepared to be stopped halfway.
"We have made considerable progress, which is reflected in the FIFA rankings.
"However, we still have a lot of work to do."
Hiddink will be delighted that his players came through Sunday's final round of Russian Premier Liga games relatively unscathed and is able to call on a full-strength squad for the Israel game.
"Happily, we got through without any injuries," team doctor Andrei Grishanov said.
"Naturally there are one or two knocks, but on the whole the players are fit and ready for action."
A question mark, however, does hang over the participation of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
The 21-year old, who recently returned to action having spent six months on the sidelines with cruciate ligament damage, has admitted he is not yet 100% fit despite keeping two clean sheets for club side CSKA Moscow since returning to the first team.
"I'm trying and working hard, but I haven't reached my best form yet, and I think that is only natural. I won't reach 100% this year," said Akinfeev.
"Playing in the Russian league is not like playing in European competition, which is played at a much faster pace.
"It is not easy to play at that level after losing one's rhythm for such a long period."
Understudy Vladimir Gabulov, whose confidence may be dented by the fact that his club side Kuban Krasnodar suffered relegation at the weekend, looks set to continue in goal if Hiddink decides against risking Akinfeev.
Unlike Gabulov, the mood is upbeat amongst the five Zenit St Petersburg players in the squad for whom victory over Israel on Saturday would be the icing on the cake of a perfect week.
Zenit were crowned Russian champions for the first time on Sunday after beating Saturn Moscow Region 1-0.
But celebrations have been put on hold, with striker Andrei Arshavin saying that despite success on the domestic front, the national team was always in his thoughts.
"I was thinking about the national side even as the game in Ramenskoye ended," Arshavin told Sport Express.
"When playing for your club you are of course tuned in to that, but the national side is always in the back of your mind."
Zenit midfielder Konstantin Zyrianov added: "I managed a glass of champagne at the airport, but that was all before having to fly back to Moscow."
