Domestic football has taken a back seat this past week as decisive 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifiers have unfolded. This will be compensated for by loaded menus in Argentina, Brazil, the USA, Australia, China PR, Japan, Angola and South Africa this weekend. FIFA.com previews the forthcoming action.

Argentinian Apertura: Top two hit the road
Estudiantes and Velez Sarsfield sit level on points at the summit heading into Round 9, and they will welcome back key players from international duty as they go in search of away victories. Juan Sebastian Veron and his fellow Pincharratas will be at Newell's Old Boys, while Nicolas Otamendi and his El Fortín colleagues take on Lanus.

Third-placed Independiente, spearheaded by the in-form Dario Gandin, host rock-bottom Chacarita Juniors, as San Lorenzo, in fourth, entertain ninth-placed Rosario Central.

High stakes: After a dreadful start, Boca Juniors have won their last two matches to rise to tenth. Can the ascent of Alfio Basile's charges continue at home to a Tigre side desperate to improve a record of just one point from a possible 21 since the opening day?
Players to watch: In the wake of his winner for Argentina in Uruguay, all eyes will be on Huracan midfielder Mario Bolatti and his battle with River Plate's former Albiceleste stalwart Matias Almeyda.

Brasileirao: Vagner versus Adriano
Following a shock loss at struggling Nautico, pacesetters Palmeiras will welcome back Edmilson, Diego Souza and Vagner Love for the visit of sixth-placed Flamengo, who will hope the return of Adriano can help them make it nine games without defeat.

Sao Paulo and Atletico Mineiro, second and fourth respectively, will do battle as Goias, eight points off the pace in fifth, visit mid-table Avai. Corinthians, in eighth, will face relegation-haunted Sport in Recife.

High stakes: Tailenders Fluminense, seven points adrift of safety, will entertain third-placed Internacional.
Players to watch: Level on points in mid-table, Barueri and Santos will charge respective stars Fernandinho and Neymar with influencing their duel.

American Major League Soccer: Four places up for grabs
Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy, Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA have all qualified for the play-offs, and the battle to join them is poised for its penultimate leg. Seattle Sounders can secure qualification with victory at Kansas City Wizards, who need three points to retain any faint hope of a top-eight finish. An away win would also be enough for Chicago Fire when they travel to a New England Revolution team occupying the last play-off spot.

Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake, two points and one point shy of the play-off places, collide in a game neither can afford to lose.

High stakes: The thriving FC Dallas are two points adrift of the qualification places, while the out-of-sorts Colorado Rapids side they are poised to host are two points inside the top eight.
Players to watch: FCD's Jeff Cunningham and Rapids talisman Conor Casey enter their shootout as the competition's top two marksmen.

Chinese Super League: Wide-openness epitomised
One point is all that separates the top five heading into the third-last round. The front two, a Beijing Guo'an outfit with Joel Griffiths firing on all cylinders and Henan Jianye, host mid-table Guangzhou Yiyao and relegation-threatened Qingdao Jonoon respectively, while third-placed Shandong Luneng are at home to second-bottom Changsha Ginde.

Changchun Yatai and Dalian Haichang collide in a battle between fourth and seventh, as Shanghai Shenhua, two points off the pace in sixth, entertain a Hangzhou Lucheng team desperate for points in their battle against the drop.

High stakes: Fifth-placed Tianjin Teda visit Shenzhen, who are just two points clear of the relegation zone having played a game more than the teams beneath them.
Players to watch: Shandong's Han Peng and Kim Eun-Jung of Changsha have the class to dictate their employers' outcome. 

South African Premiership: High-flyers approach high hurdles
Leaders Orlando Pirates, who have conceded just one goal in nine outings this term, host an in-form Santos side just four places and points below them. An away success would suit Bidvest Wits University and Bloemfontein Celtic, who are both two points off the pace and on their travels at Golden Arrows and Ajax Cape Town respectively.

Meantime, reigning champions Supersport United, in fourth, visit a Mpumalanga Black Aces outfit only three points off the foot.

High stakes: Tailenders Jomo Cosmos and third-placed AmaZulu will square off in Rosettenville.
Players to watch: In a battle of the giants, Mamelodi Sundowns, in ninth, will hope Katlego Mphela can inspire the downfall of seventh-placed Kaizer Chiefs, for whom Kaizer Motaung Junior has been starring.

Elsewhere
Gold Coast United and Perth Glory, second and third respectively, will do battle in the pick of the Australian A-League fixtures. The Queensland outfit will look to their Joel Porter-Shane Smeltz attack for inspiration, but in Tando Velaphi, they will be up against a goalkeeper at the top of his game.

One points separates the top four with six rounds remaining in the Japanese J.League. Bottom will host top when Shimizu S-Pulse visit Oita Trinita, while second-placed Kashima Antlers travel to mid-table Júbilo Iwata. Third-placed Gamba Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale, one position beneath them, will visit sixth-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima and struggling Omiya Ardija respectively.

Defending champions Petro Atletico enter the penultimate round of the Angolan Girabola five points clear at the summit. Bernardino Pedroto's side will charge infallible goal machine David with earning them the trophy-clinching victory over fifth-placed ASA. An away upset would give second-placed Benfica Luanda the chance to preserve their title hopes at home to fourth-placed Primeiro de Agosto.