WALES tomorrow go looking for their first hat-trick of competitive victories for 21 years here against the Minnows of Azerbaijan.

But as everyone who is involved with the Welsh national team know, things are never easy and straight forward.

Now just the day before the game Mark Hughes is still sweating over injuries to two of his key players. Both Danny Gabbidon and Mark Delaney, key men in the Welsh rearguard are still suffering and are having their fitness assessed by Hughes' medical men out here in Baku.

Both men are confident they'll be fit, nevertheless Sparky must have added a few grey hairs for this trip into the unknown. This is the Welsh teams first trip to Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian sea.

First it was that infamous four-day ruling and the 'could it be invoked' saga. FIFA's decision (eventually) went against Wales and the horror Hughes feared most was losing one of his stars - Robbie Savage.

The Birmingham City battler missed the trip as he is nursing a groin injury he picked up after clashing with Fulham keeper Edwin Van Der Sar on Sunday.

Mark Pembridge's withdrawl due to a calf problem wasn't down to Sunday's match though as he was also forced to miss Everton's trip to Blackburn Rovers.

Then came the 'will he or won't he' tale surrounding Craig Bellamy, who only six days ago dragged Newcastle United into the second stage of the Champions League.

But Sir Bobby Robson smashed down his iron fist and Bellamy was another notable absentee on the long arduous flight to the most far flung country in European football.

But Hughes won't let the slightest sniff of turmoil ruin his Euro 2004 dream. "We've got to just get on with it," he tells his professional players - and bloody right he is too.

And lets face it the starting eleven Wales can put out tomorrow at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium should be able to beat an Azeri team, whose players have only recently started playing competitive club football again after a dispute.

The key to Welsh victory will be the preciseness of Mark Hughes' preparation and attention to even the slightest of detail that distinguishes between a good manager and a great one.

Hughes, one of the finest professional footballers of the 20th century, knows exactly what the players desire and he understands the players' bodies are temples and how important it is that they stay that way for his team to be successful.

For instance mealtimes are the same each day, almost to the second and despite the four hour difference to Greenwich meantime out here, their body clock is not altered.

Hughes is just as organised on the pitch - and every player knows it.

Whether they are the star man like Ryan Giggs or the new rookie from Division Three Swansea City who has been called up at the very last minute just in case Wales' injury crisis plunges to an all-time low, step forward James Thomas, every man knows exactly what his job entails to the smallest of detail.

Such as the organisation, Hughes can afford to play players out of position unbalancing the whole team for not having that star whinging about playing in an alien role.

Captain Gary Speed is a perfect example. A ball winning, creative midfielder all of his professional life, he has slotted back into left back without a whimper.

The Newcastle United player pointed out: "The one thing under Mark Hughes is that when we have injuries and suspensions, players that come into the team know exactly what job they have to do and what is expected of them.

"Individuals can win games but the concept is the team comes first and when players play, they do a job for the team."

Even Hughes' mentor Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the greatest British manager of the 20th century, has picked up on the Welsh bosses' enormous potential and it is Hughes' 'leave no stone unturned' attitude that has created a buzz around Welsh football.

A hat trick of wins will be no mean feat to start this Euro 2004 group nine qualifying campaign - an achievement last done by Wales in 1980/81.

The then Welsh team enjoyed a sixth game winning streak from June 2, 1980 when they beat Iceland in Reykjavik 4-0 to May 16, 1981 when the Dragons beat Scotland 2-0 in Swansea in the old Home Nations Championship.

That run included victories against Turkey (4-0), Czechoslovakia (1-0), Republic of Ireland (3-1) and Turkey (1-0). The first five successes were in the qualifying stages for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

The class of 2002 can make their own bit of history tomorrow and with good records against the so-called minnows of European football, Hughes will hopefully be sparkling tomorrow evening.

Wales probable: P Jones, M Delaney, D Gabbidon, R Page, A Melville, R Weston, S Davies, C Robinson, G Speed, R Giggs, R Earnshaw, J Hartson.