Portugal face Poland with makeshift defence

LISBON, Sep 6 (Reuters) Portugal have little room to manoeuvre in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari seeking home wins against Poland and Serbia to haul them out of third place in Group A.

The Portuguese, hosts and runners-up in 2004, are struggling in defence with Chelsea centre back Ricardo Carvalho and his replacement, Real Madrid's Pepe, injured.

The Brazilian-born Pepe, recently granted Portuguese citizenship, pulled out with a thigh strain suffered in training with his club hours after the squad was named.

Fernando Meira and Jorge Andrade are thus likely to form the central defensive pairing.

''We have a minimal margin of error,'' Scolari said, appealing to the 50,000 fans expected at Benfica's Luz stadium on Saturday to cheer the team to victory.

Portugal also host Serbia next Wednesday but their campaign has stuttered after they were held to a 1-1 draw in Armenia last month. Only the group winners and runners-up qualify for next year's finals being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

Poland are top on 19 points from nine matches. Finland are second with 17, two points ahead of Portugal with Serbia fourth on 14.

Portugal and Serbia have a game in hand.

Poland coach Leo Beenhakker believes his team will overcome their recent injury troubles to put up a strong fight.

''They (Portugal) will have to worry about how to beat us. We are heading towards the end of the qualifiers so there are no longer are any easy enemies,'' Beenhakker told reporters on Tuesday.

Poland defender Jacek Bak and midfielder Michal Golinski will miss the match through injury.

Poland beat Portugal 2-1 in Chorzow last October to register their first win over the World Cup semi-finalists in 20 years.

Probable Portugal team: Ricardo; Miguel, Jorge Andrade, Fernando Meira, Paulo Ferreira, Maniche Ribeiro, Jose Bosingwa,Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Helder Postiga, Simao Sabrosa.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy) REUTERS TB AS1420