Spain's Furia Roja will meet fellow World Cup qualifiers the 'Elephants' of Ivory Coast in a World Cup warm-up match for both sides prior to the World Cup kick-off in June.

Fresh from their impressive performance at the African Nations Cup, Ivory Coast are certain to provide Spain with a stiff test in the first of the four warm-up matches Aragones has planned for Spain before the World Cup.

The Elephants of the Ivory Coast, who are one of the five teams from Africa that qualified for the World Cup Finals, beat favourites Cameroon on their way to the final of the African Cup of Nations earlier this month, and only lost out to hosts Egypt after a penalty shoot-out.

With an attack spearheaded by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and a defence containing Arsenal's Kolo Toure, who was one of the outstanding players in the tournament in Egypt, Coach Henri Michel's side have produced some encouraging performances against European opponents in recent friendlies.

Michel’s side came close to ending Italy's 15-match unbeaten run when they drew 1-1 with the Azzurri in Rome last November and beat Romania 2-1 in the same month.

Henri has given a first call-up to 30-year-old Lazio midfielder Christian Manfredini and to keeper Stephane Laboue, who plays for German second division side Paderborn.

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.

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.

“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,” said Fabregas.

Also expected to start is Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia, who has already impressed many in Spain by scoring a hat-trick in Spains World Cup play-off first leg against Slovakia, and will want to cement his place in the squad.

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.

Ivory Coast have been handed one of the toughest draws in the World Cup after being drawn in Group C with Argentina, Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro.

It seems that Spain’s Furia Roja have an easier task in Group H where they have been drawn alongside Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

Possible teams:

Spain: Iker Casillas; Michel Salgado, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Antonio Lopez; Jose Antonio Reyes, David Albelda, Cesc Fabregas, Luis Garcia; Fernando Torres, David Villa.

Ivory Coast: Jean-Jacques Tizie; Arthur Boka, Kolo Toure, Blaise Koffi Kouassi, Emmanuel Eboue; Didier Zokora, Gneri Yaya Toure, Kanga Akale, Emerse Fae; Didier Drogba, Arouna Kone

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