If the match might even get underway because of the haze is the biggest question ahead of the Group E World Cup qualifier between Singapore and Afghanistan on Thursday.

A final call will be taken only a little before the match, as the haze continues to cause problems in Singapore.

This is a crucial qualifier for the home team, with a win taking them ever closer to inking their place in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, while Afghanistan will want to get their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.

Afghanistan might have lost two of their three matches at these World Cup qualifiers so far, but they do have potent weapons in their lineup, most of them players who ply their trade in Germany.

A win against Afghanistan has been further complicated, though, for Singapore with the suspensions of Safuwan Baharudin and Hariss Harun.

Looking to make an impression in the absence of the two midfielders is the main striker Khairul Amri. "Amri is the best striker that we have now," Singapore assistant coach Fandi Ahmad said. "He is very clinical, he works very hard, he has good technique and he finishes well.

"I hope he is lucky against Afghanistan because he was unlucky against Syria. It is also important that he gets good supply. His burden is heavy and he needs support. We cannot depend totally on Amri or he will suffer."

Amri believes the more he plays in the team, the better he will get. "It feels good to finally get my place after waiting for so long," Amri told The Straits Times. "I had been in and out of position, in and out of the team.

"I feel more responsibility resting on me now. This is a position that I've always preferred. I get to make runs, make passes and score goals."

Singapore currently have four points from three matches, one more than Afghanistan, and three behind second-placed Japan, who are a further two points adrift of group leaders Syria.

A win on Thursday will stand Singapore in good stead; however, Afghanistan will be thinking along the same lines as well.

Where to Watch Live

Singapore vs Afghanistan is scheduled for an 8 pm local time (5.30 pm IST, 1 pm BST) start with no live TV coverage in India.

Viewers in Singapore can watch the match on Eleven Singapore, while Bein Sports Arabia will show live action to the audience in the Middle East and North Africa, with the online live streaming option on Bein Sports Connect.