Argentina travel to Ecuador for their latest 2014 World Cup qualifier with a big doubt hanging over the head of star striker Lionel Messi.
A victory would all but assure the twice world champions' place at next year's showpiece in neighbours Brazil but without Messi, Argentina are not the same animal.
They may lead the qualifying standings by five points from Colombia after the pair's draw in Buenos Aires on Friday but that match showed just how important the Barcelona great is to the team.
Messi played only the last half hour of an uninspiring match and afterwards his club and country teammate Javier Mascherano admitted the team isn't the same without him.
"Obviously if everyone was thinking that we wouldn't notice his absence, they were mistaken. There's a reason he's the best player in the world," said Mascherano.
