World Cup 2006 hosts Germany face Portugal in Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stüttgart.

For Germany, (also playing as West Germany), this will be the 4th World Cup Finals third place play-off they have been involved in, having come third in 1934 and 1970, and fourth in 1958.

Portugal will be looking to equal their best ever World Cup finish of third place, as they go into their second third place play-off after having beaten the Soviet Union 2-1 in 1966.

FIFA have again defended the relevance of the third-place play-off, which happens at every World Cup Finals, but this time has far more interest than usual due to the host nation being involved.

FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler said: “I believe there is still a high value in this match. For the players it matters whether they come in third or fourth.

“Especially with Germany playing in the match I think the interest will be high. It is a prestige thing. It's about knowing where the teams finished on the field of play.”

Portugal head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will be without defender Miguel, who misses the game because of a knee injury.

Portugal and Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho is suspended for the match, after having received two yellow-cards in the knock-out phase and will be replaced by his Chelsea team-mate Paulo Ferreira.

Germany defenders Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich will be replaced by Middlesbrough’s Robert Huth and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Marcell Jansen for the match against Portugal.

Germany head coach Jürgen Klinsmann will be boosted by the news that striker Miroslav Klose has been declared fit, but Germany captain and Chelsea new-boy Michael Ballack will miss the match because of an inflamed left-knee.

Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann has agreed to let the former Germany No1 and Bayern Munich keeper Oliver Khan play in one last World Cup match to earn his 86th international cap.

Lehmann meanwhile has said he is happy to stand aside so that Kahn can play a World Cup match in his homeland.

Jürgen Klinsmann told BBC Sport: “We owe Oliver that gesture to play him, and there is nobody in this world who can begrudge him that privilege.

“He has played a vital role, almost as a member of the backroom staff and has had a great influence on the development and nurturing of these young players.”

Probable teams for Germany v Portugal:

Germany (probable): Oliver Kahn; Marcell Jansen, Christoph Metzelder, Robert Huth, Philipp Lahm; Bernd Schneider, Sebastian Kehl, Tim Borowski, Torsten Frings; Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose.

Portugal (probable): Ricardo; Paulo Ferreira, Fernando Meira, Rui Costa, Nuno Valente; Costinha, Maniche, Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco; Pauleta.