Spain coach forced into more changes for Ukraine game

Spain coach Inaki Saez will be forced into yet another defensive experiment when his side take on Ukraine in Saturday's European championship qualifier in Kiev.

Saez has tried five different centre-back partnerships in the six games since he took over from Jose Antonio Camacho after Spain's quarter-final exit at the World Cup.

With both his senior defenders unavailable for the Group Six match away to Ukraine -- Ivan Helguera is suspended, while Carles Puyol is on his way back from injury -- Saez will make changes once again.

Carlos Marchena of Valencia and Deportivo Coruna's Cesar were paired up in Saez's first team in training on Wednesday and they look set to play a competitive match together for the first time in Kiev.

Spain lead the group with maximum points from two games against Greece and Northern Ireland, with Ukraine second on five points having played a game more.

The clash with a Ukraine side led by AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko is likely to be Spain's toughest match in qualifying and the players have been talking up the challenge at their training camp in Jerez this week.

"The temperature and the pitch will be different from what we're used to," said Marchena. "If we want to make progress we'll have to show we can play the bullfighter whatever the venue."

"We also have to be aware that Ukraine are not just Shevchenko."

Midfielders Xavi and Vicente and full back Michel Salgado arrived in Jerez with slight injuries but all have been passed fit to face Ukraine.

Spain go on to meet Armenia at home on Wednesday, April 2, when Saez will be able to call on Helguera following his suspension.