Kazakhstan vs Northern Ireland: Head to head statistics
Kazakhstan vs Northern Ireland recommended bets
Kazakhstan vs Northern Ireland match preview
Northern Ireland will be 3,068 miles from home for this one, desperately aiming to end their miserable losing streak.
On Thursday night, the Green and White Army were beaten 4-2 by Slovenia at Stadion Stožice, with Isaac Price and Jonny Evans on target in vain in Ljubljana.
Before this, Michael O’Neill’s team had suffered three successive 1-0 defeats, including being beaten when Kazakhstan visited Belfast, with Abat Aiymbetov the last-gasp match-winner at Windsor Park.
Overall, Northern Ireland have lost four successive qualifiers since October 2011, seeking to avoid losing five on the spin in the same campaign for the first time in 22 years.
So, given that they’ve only beaten San Marino so far, the Green and White Army are all but mathematically out of the running to qualify, even with half the campaign still to go.
The same cannot be said of Kazakhstan, although their hopes of a top two finish did suffer a serious blow in mid-week.
On Thursday, Magomed Adiyev’s team were beaten by Finland in a top of the table clash in Nur-Sultan, with the night’s only goal coming just 11 minutes from time.
This saw the Hawks sink from second down to fourth place, although just three points separate the top four teams in Group H.
Even if Kazakhstan don’t qualify automatically, they are guaranteed a play-off place, having won Nations League promotion last year, as they dream of reaching a first-ever major tournament.
Given that Northern Ireland have won just two of their last 16 competitive away games, a home victory seems likely at Astana Arena.
Kazakhstan team news
Having scored the winner against both Denmark and Northern Ireland, Abat Aymbetov is Kazakhstan’s danger man, set to lead the line with Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov in-behind.
Northern Ireland team news
Jamal Lewis and Steven Davis are both out, meaning five of the outfielders who started in Ljubljana had less than ten caps to their name.
Centre-back Craig Cathcart, who plays for Kortrijk these days, came on but then went off again against Slovenia, meaning he’s a doubt.
Dion Charles bagged both in the 2-0 victory over San Marino on matchday one, but no Northern Irish player has scored a goal since.