With just three points separating Costa Rica (12 points) from the fourth placed Mexicans (nine), the two rounds of qualifiers on Saturday and next Wednesday will go a long way to deciding which teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean head to the finals in South Africa next year.
The top three teams in the six-nation final qualifying group automatically advance to South Africa while the fourth placed team faces a two-legged playoff against the fifth-placed South American team.
El Tri were then beaten by El Salvador in Javier Aguirre's first qualifier in charge but their recent victory over the U.S in Mexico City has put them back in contention.
"We know that the field is horrible, so playing good football will be difficult. We might have to do different things to try and win the game but the most important things will be concentration and order," he said.
Mexico's chances have been hampered by the loss of injured Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez and Arsenal forward Carlos Vela.
