MOSCOW, October 13 (Marc Bennetts for RIA Novosti) - When the draw for the play-off stages of the long road to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is made in Zurich on Monday, Russia and Ukraine will be hoping fate keeps them apart.

Despite losing 1-0 at home to Group 4 leaders Germany on Saturday, Russia are guaranteed second place and a play-off spot irrespective of the result of Wednesday's game in Azerbaijan. Victory for Ukraine in Andorra the same evening will seal second place behind England in Group 6 and passage to the play-offs.

FIFA's recent decision to seed the teams in the play-offs means that Russia, at 6 in the world rankings, will face one of Bosnia, the Republic of Ireland, Ukraine (assuming they take all three points in Andorra) and Slovakia/Slovenia (depending on the final round of games.)

With tensions high between the two former Soviet republics on a range of issues ranging from Ukraine's NATO bid to Russia's claims that Kiev supplied weapons to Georgia during last year's war over South Ossetia, a two-legged clash between the two sides would be highly-charged, to say the least.

Of course, while World Cup qualifiers have in the past led to armed conflict between neighboring states (Honduras and El Salvador in 1969), no one is suggesting a similar outbreak of fighting if the two sides meet this November.

That's not to say though that the possibility of a winner-takes-all battle between Russia and Ukraine hasn't seen talk about the likely political aspects of the match.

"I wouldn't want to play against Russia," Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko told the Dynamomania.com website. "What do we need these political games for?"

"In light of our position on the world map, I would like least of all to face Russia," Ukrainian keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy told Dynamo.kiev.ua.

With pro-Western Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko trailing in the polls to pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych ahead of January's election, victory over Russia could be just the thing the beleaguered Ukrainian leader needs to boost his ratings.

"There would undoubtedly be a political subtext to the match." ex-Chelsea and Russia player Alexei Smertin told the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government daily. "After all, we both once represented the same country. The intrigue around the game would be tremendous."

So far, Russia's current crop of stars have kept largely quiet on the possibility of a clash with Ukraine, with only Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin saying he wants to avoid a "derby."

But Arshavin's reluctance may be for reasons more footballing than political. The last time the two sides met was catastrophic for Russia, a last minute goal by Shevchenko sending Russia crashing out of qualification for Euro 2000 and Ukraine into the play-offs.