Defender Hrvoje Vejic, who plays for Russian club Tom Tomsk, is the only real surprise in the squad while Jerko Leko misses out through suspension.

Croatia lead Group E by three points from England and a win against Macedonia in Skopje on November 17 would seal their place in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

"We are facing two very difficult away games," Bilic said.

"We wanted to secure our Euro 2008 spot before these matches, but it didn't turn out like that.

"I hope we won't have any problems with injuries. Other than that, we have nothing to be afraid of."

Croatia face England at Wembley four days after the trip to Macedonia when the home side will go through with a win if Russia have dropped points in Israel four days earlier.

Squad: Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Runje (Lens), Galinovic (Panathinaikos); Corluka (Manchester City), Simic (AC Milan), Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Drpic (Dinamo Zagreb), Knezevic (Livorno), R Kovac (Borussia Dortmund), Vejic (Tom Tomsk); N Kovac (SV Salzburg), Modric (Dinamo Zagreb), Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Vranjes (Werder Bremen), Babic (Sevilla), Pranjic (Heerenveen), Vukojevic (Dinamo Zagreb), Rakitic (Schalke); Eduardo (Arsenal), Olic (Hamburg), Petric (Borussia Dortmund), Kalinic (Hajduk Split).