Egypt host bitter rivals Algeria Saturday in the potentially explosive highlight of a nine-match schedule and already-qualified Ghana meet Mali in the sole Sunday fixture.

Cameroon or Gabon will go through from Group A, Tunisia or Nigeria from Group B and Algeria or Egypt from Group C while Group D table-toppers Ivory Coast, Group E winners Ghana and hosts South Africa are already through.

Wins for Cameroon away to Morocco and Tunisia away to Mozambique will seal places at the first World Cup to be staged in Africa while a win, draw or one-goal loss for Algeria returns them the finals after a 23-year absence.

A two-goal victory for Egypt would mean a play-off in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on November 18 and the 'Pharaohs' would qualify directly for South Africa if they triumph by a wider margin at home.

Tension ahead of the Saturday evening clash at the 73,000-seat Cairo Stadium has led world governing football body FIFA and officials from both countries to call for fair play on the field and calm off it.

Those pleas fell on deaf ears when Algeria arrived in Cairo late Thursday with police officials confirming stones were thrown at the visitors' bus as it sped from the airport to a hotel.

While Egypt insisted no one was injured, Algeria claimed several players were hurt ahead ahead of the return match in a mini-league that has not gone according to form.

Internet and media 'wars' have been raging for weeks between the rivals and Algeria want extra security for the 'Desert Foxes' players and officials after the bus incident.

The 'Pharaohs' were firm favorites to finish first and compete at the World Cup for the first time since 1990, but a home draw with Zambia followed by a loss in Algeria placed them under pressure.A recovery brought