Spain midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Marcos Senna have been given the chance to stake their claim to a place in Spain's World Cup squad when they make their debut appearances for la Furia Roja in the friendly against Ivory Coast on Wednesday.

Although there are more than ten years age difference between the two players, the midfielders have been picked for their recent fine form at club level, which have seen them being rewarded with their first international call-ups for the match against the runners-up of the African Cup of Nations.

Both players are determined to grasp the opportunity to impress coach Luis Aragones in the match at Valladolid.

“Things are going well for me at the moment and I want to make the most of this chance,” the 18-year-old Arsenal player Fabregas told reporters on his arrival at the Spain team headquarters in Las Rozas on Monday.

“I'm grateful for the confidence the boss has shown in me, and I want to show that he was right to select me.”

The former Barcelona youth team player, who has been one of the few shining stars in an otherwise insipid Arsenal team this season, is reportedly being groomed as the replacement for Barcelona’s star midfielder Xavi, who may not be present at the World Cup Finals due to a serious knee ligament injury.

Brazilian-born midfielder Senna, who plays for Villarreal and is 11 years older than Fabregas, was just as enthusiastic about getting his first call-up.

“For me going to the World Cup would be the tops,” said Senna. “I want to do the best I can, and my aim is to show that I deserve to wear the shirt.”

With injuries having forced both Real Madrid’s Guti, and Valencia’s Ruben Baraja to drop out of the squad, both fringe players are likely to be given a run out in Wednesday's match, and the opportunity to impress Aragones.

Spain will also be without captain Raul who has yet to manage a full 90 minutes for his club-side Real Madrid since returning from the sidelines after a three-month lay-off because of a serious knee injury.

His absence from Aragones’ squad will give Valencia striker David Villa, who is currently the highest scoring Spaniard in the Primera Liga with 15 goals, a final chance to prove that he warrants a place in the starting line-up in the World Cup Finals.

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