The top team from Group Four will qualify with the runners-up involved in a qualification round.

Russia are currently second behind leaders Germany and, if they fail to qualify, there is gathering speculation that Hiddink could return to Chelsea.

The Russian Football Union allowed the Dutchman to combine both roles until the end of the season and Hiddink is adamant he has no plans to stay beyond then.

Chelsea are unbeaten since Hiddink took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari and several of the players have since urged him to stay at the club.

But the Blues would have to take a massive gamble in the summer if they wait for the outcome of Russia's World Cup qualification bid and Hiddink stressed it was too early to think about the possible scenarios.

"When we made a new contract with Russia, then of course we talked about qualification for South Africa 2010," revealed Hiddink.

"My contract expires at the period of 2010 World Cup. But we also said, as men, that if we don't qualify with Russia, and the Russian Federation likes to go in a different direction or strategy, then we have to talk about how to end the contract.

"So we put a clause in there saying that, if Russia do not qualify, we can talk about leaving at the end of the qualification stage.

"We could go on, still. It would be up to them if they want to go in a different direction.

"I've not thought about it. I'll be here until the end of May.

"But what would Chelsea do in between? That's a different story. It's too far away to consider. It's now March and we're talking about November. A lot will happen in between."

Hiddink will meet up with his Russia squad next week for their qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.

He is confident he can lead Russia to the finals and has pinpointed their return clash with Germany as key to his target of topping the group.

"It's a difficult group," he added. "Germany are almost always on a World Cup or European stage. They are leading the group.

"If you finish second you don't automatically qualify and so we must go for first place if we can."

Hiddink is hoping to record his fifth straight league win against Tottenham tomorrow.

Midfielder Deco is missing with a hamstring problem but fears that he was out for the season have proved unfounded.

"Deco has a problem but not on the same spot," said Hiddink. "He was cured totally before but it's in another spot, a problem in his hamstring.

"We have not foreseen a particular schedule when he will be back. We'll have to take time to train him very well. It's not a matter of two or three days.

"I don't think he'll be out for the rest of the season, but I'm not totally sure. He's in full treatment here and we've not put a time schedule on it."