When the draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers was held back at the end of March, there was one potential match-up that stood out straight away - Singapore vs Malaysia.

For the match up to take place Malaysia would have to dispose of Chinese Taipei in the first round of qualifying, which they did...just! After winning at home in the first leg 2-1, Malaysia did it the hard way, losing the second leg 3-2 but advancing on the away goals rule.

And so we have the latest instalment in, arguably, South East Asia's biggest rivalry, the Causeway Derby as it is known locally.

The two nation's football histories are intimately linked, with Singapore playing in Malaysian competitions right up until 1994 when they pulled out to create their own domestic league.

The nations have met 57 times throughout their history, with Singapore just shading the ledger 21-19 (with 17 draws). For countries with such a rich history, you have to go back almost three years for their last meeting, a 2-2 draw in a friendly in Selangor in 2008.

So it is with great anticipation that we await this weekend's match.

Malaysia, coming off their inaugural AFF Cup success in December last year, will be looking to make it to the third round of World Cup Qualifying for the first time in their history and they come into the match in decent form with only 2 losses in their last 15 games.

Leading the line for the Tigers will be Safee Sali, fresh off a brace for his country in their glamour friendly against English giants Liverpool. The 27 year old has an impressive goal scoring record for his country, netting 13 times in 29 games.

Former national team coach B. Sathianathan describes him as the "ace in the pack" for Malaysia, confident his former charges can get the job done over what he describes as an aging Singapore side. With half of Singapore's squad under the age of 25, it's hard to know what he classes as "aging".

For Singapore the weight of expectation falls onto 20-year-old Hariss Harun, who despite his tender age has notched up 17 caps for his country and is widely regarded as a captain-in-waiting.

Such is the anticipation for this clash that tickets for the Jalan Besar Stadium, which admittedly only has a capacity of 6,000, sold out in six hours, with tickets appearing on eBay just hours later with an asking price as much as $400 (original tickets were just $15). And hundreds of Singapore fans have already committed to attending the return leg in Malaysia with more expected to make the trip is they get a favourable result in the first leg.

An allocation of 500 tickets was allowed for travelling Malaysian fans for the first leg, with that allocation already sold out. The Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur is expected to be close to sold out for the return leg next week.

The result, regardless of which way it goes, will be of great significance. Singapore, who after a series of poor results, decided earlier this year to take a long-term approach to rebuilding the team. As a result, the 26-man squad to face Malaysia has 13 players under the age of 25.

To get a win over their fierce rivals just months after starting the process will be justification for going down that path which, coincidentally, is the same path Malaysia is going down.

Malaysia stunned everyone when their youthful side took out the AFF Suzuki Cup last December and this side will be looking to continue that run of form. 16 of their squad are under the age of 25 and a win that qualifies them for the third round of qualifying for the first time ever will be a massive boon for football in the country.

Controversially, in 2009 the FAM banned foreign players from playing in the Malaysian Super League to give more opportunities to local players so as to develop better footballers and ultimately, a more successful national side. The FAM will no doubt see this as justification for that decision if they succeed in getting to the third round.

It will be a fierce battle, players on both sides know what is riding on the result. And for two sides with little chance of actually making it to Brazil, this game is their winner-takes-all qualifier.

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