This could be good news for the South Americans, who will qualify for the second round along with Nigeria if they manage to break their goal drought and grab a win. A draw could also be enough if rivals Spain and Bulgaria draw their last match.

Nigerian coach Bora Milutinovic said the team had confidence in its ability to improve on the unfortunate second round exit at the hands of Italy four years ago, and wanted to keep up it winning streak.

``The boys are dreaming of going all the way to the final and winning the World Cup,'' he said. Mid-fielder Sunday Oliseh, scorer of the winner in the thrilling 3-2 victory over Spain, said it was vital the team did not relax against Paraguay to maintain morale and momentum.

But Milutinovic has hinted he may leave out those who have one yellow card and would missthe second round were they to pick up a further caution. The three players with a yellow card are striker Victor Ikpeba, playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha and versatile defensive mid-fielder mutiu Adepoju.

Definitely out of the game is suspended captain Uche Okechukwu, a mainstay in the centre of the Nigerian defence. Either Uche Okafor or Augustine Eguavoen, both experienced internationals, could step in.

Milutinovic might be tempted to start with striker Nwankwo Kanu, who came on as a late substitute in the 1-0 win over Bulgaria last Friday, instead of Ikpeba.

Kanu, the star of the 1996 Olympic winning team, is still feeling his way back to form after heart surgery 18 months ago Paraguay, yet to score or concede a goal in the tournament have doubts over their mid-field and attack. Coach Paolo Carpeggiani is set to pick Hugo Brizuela of Argentinos Juniors to lead the attack but has been testing both Jose Cardozo of Mexican club Toluca and Cesar Ramirez of Sporting Lisbon as his striking partners in training. Inmid-field he must choose between the experienced Roberto Acuna or the 21-year-old Carlos Paredes.

Probable teams: Nigeria: 1-Peter Rufai; 2-Mobi Oparaku, 6-Taribo West, 16-Uche Okafor (or 17 Augustine Eguavoen), 3-Celestine Babayaro, 15-Sunday Oliseh, 21-Godwin Okpara, 7-Finidi George, 11-Garba Lawal, 4-Nwankwo Kanu, 14-Daniel Amokachi

Paraguay: 1-Jose Luis Chilavert, 2-Francisco Arce, 4-Carlos Gamarra, 5-Celso Ayala, 11-Pedro Sarabia, 20-Denis Caniza, 10-Roberto Acuna (or 13-Carlos Paredes), 15-Miguel Benitez, 16-Julio Cesar Enciso, 17-Hugo Brizuela, 9-Jose Cardozo (or 18-Cesar Ramirez).