Slovenia take on the USA in Johannesburg knowing victory would help them seize control of Group C as the only team currently on three points.

Matjaz Kek's team started their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Algeria to put them top of the group, while the USA drew with England in their opener.

A further three points would hand the Slovenians a massive advantage over their rivals and could see them secure an unlikely qualification place.

Slovenia - making just their second ever appearance at a World Cup finals - were widely expected to make up the numbers, with England and Bob Bradley's team expected to contest first and second.

Victory over Algeria in Polokwane on Sunday changed that, though, and the opportunity is available for Kek's team to pave the way for a passage into the knockout phase.

A win at Ellis Park would also double their tally of victories in the competition, their taming of the Desert Foxes being the nation's first ever triumph in a finals.

The pressure will be very much on the USA to take home the points on Friday afternoon, then, or their chances of progression appear slim.

Bradley said he is expecting a more methodical battle against Slovenia - in contrast to Saturday's 1-1 stalemate - which will pit the event's largest and smallest nations against each other.

Kek could name the same starting XI from the one that made history against Algeria.

The 48-year-old has a clean bill of health going into the game and any alterations will be unforced on the manager.

Zlatan Ljubijankic may press for a starting berth after replacing Zlatko Dedic in the second half of their last outing, the latter proving ineffective throughout the match.

Aleksander Radosavljevic and Andrej Komac are walking a suspension tightrope and will miss the final pool game against England if they pick up further bookings.

Bradley can breathe a sigh of relief as goalkeeper Tim Howard is fit enough to start.

The Everton shot-stopper was on the receiving end of a hefty collision with England striker Emile Heskey in Rustenburg and was left nursing bruised ribs.

The clash was not enough to rule out the States' first choice custodian, with Marcus Hahnemann and Brad Guzan on stand-by.

That means the USA could also be unchanged as Bradley saw his starting XI fight back from falling behind to Steven Gerrard's fourth minute goal.