Starkovs sticks with regulars

Playing for places
Starkovs has named a 22-man squad, but four players will be discarded after training in Riga, leaving 18 to make the trip to Kiev. The key absence is Southampton FC striker Marians Pahars, who is still recovering after surgery.

Old guard
Other than that Starkovs has largely stuck to his old guns, including Mihails Miholaps, who scored a key goal for FC Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz as they shocked FC Spartak Moskva in the Russian Premier-Liga last weekend, beating them 2-1.

Scores to settle
The game is a return of a match played in Riga in August 2001 game, when Ukraine striker Olexander Melaschenko got the only goal.

San Marino preparation
For Latvia, who lead UEFA EURO 2004™ Group 4 with seven points from three games, the match is a warm-up for their qualifier on 30 April against San Marino. Ukraine face Spain on 29 March. They are currently second in Group 6 with five points from three games.

Latvia squad
Kolinko, Piedels, Vanins, Zakresevskis, Isakovs, Zemlinskis, Lobanevs, Stepanovs, Blagonadezdins, Zirnis, Zavoronkovs, Rubins, Astafjevs, Laizans, Kolesnicenko, Bleidelis, Verpakovskis, Miholaps, Rimkus, Prohorenkovs, Dobrecovs.