RYAN Giggs is among the wonders of the footballing world - and how Russia know it! Russian chief Georgi Yartsev is frightened to death of Giggs' immense ability to breakdown defences with his twinkling feet.

So he'll arrange a personal shadow to mark the Manchester United superstar when Wales line-up in Moscow on Sunday for the first-leg of their winner-takes-all Euro 2004 play-off.

Yartsev said: "A player of such class like Giggs demands permanent attention from the opponents' defence as he can make moves at any time.

"Our defenders shall do their best throughout the 180 minutes to neutralise him." Wales manager Mark Hughes, nevertheless, won't mind that. In fact, Yartsev could well be playing into the shrewd 40-year-old's hands.

He says: "Invariably, Ryan does get tightly man-marked and his reputation will always go before him. In Russian eyes, he's our most recognisable player.

"They will surely pay special attention to him and you have to because he is a world-class player and any international manager will try and nullify his threat.

"In every game Ryan plays, teams show him the respect he deserves and his reputation demands as, for a whole decade, he has performed at the highest level against the best teams and players in the world.

"But Wales are now more than just Ryan Giggs.

"Possibly in the past, a lot of our play was geared towards Ryan and the onus was on him to create most of the attacking play.

"That, however, is not the case anymore. We have other threats and I'm quite happy if they feel they have to pay special attention to Ryan because that will open gaps in other areas of the field."

Hughes is set to unleash destroyer Robert Earnshaw on the Russians due to Craig Bellamy's absence and the little 22-year-old is oozing with confidence as he has smashed 20 goals already this season in all competitions for Division One new boys Cardiff City. And he could be Hughes secret weapon.

"Sssch, then, if he's our secret weapon," joked Hughes. "Don't mention him. Tell the Russians he's that slow right-winger from Cardiff!

"Seriously, though, I think Earnie has lightening pace and has ability to work off the shoulders of defenders and is a threat whether he is out wide or being played down the middle.

"He's having an exceptional season, even better than last year because he has stepped up a level. The better standard of football hasn't fazed him and he has the capabilities to play at the highest level."

Giggs, who celebrates his 30th birthday on the 29th of this month, will be among the most experienced Welshmen on show in this two-legged play-off with a record-equalling eight Premiership titles, three FA Cup and a Champions League medal to his name.

The Cardiff-born trickster has been in fine form for United this season and his performance for Wales in their last Group Nine qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro in Cardiff was his best performance for his country for many years.

And Hughes reveals that is due to Giggs' improve physical condition.

"This season he looks a lot more confident," the Welsh manager went on.

"Physically, he feels stronger. There's no finer sight than seeing Ryan Giggs on the ball and watching him take on defenders and we've seen that on a number of occasions this season so that's good for him - and us!

"He's had a history of niggles in his hamstring but he seems to have got over that.

"He does a lot of maintenance work on his physical shape over and above training with his team-mates and he has reaped the benefits."