CRANES travel to Ghana knowing that a comprehensive victory will all but achieve qualification for Uganda.

But Uganda's phobia for away matches means Cranes must put up one of their greatest performances against the Black Stars.

Defeat will condemn Uganda to bottom place in Group 13, a stark contrast from the huge top of the table cushion enjoyed after a 1-0 victory over Ghana in Kampala.

None of the members of Cranes' technical bench, including coach Pedro Pasculli, is writing off Uganda's chances of another upset, despite popular opinion that the trip to Ghana is a mountain too high.

The mood in Ghana is one of optimism and Black Stars skipper Stephen Appiah is promising his nation victory.

Appiah, like many of his team-mates, was part of the Ghana side that was humbled by Philip Obwiny's goal at Namboole in September last year.

Competition for places, among the European based professionals, in the Black Stars is intense and coaches Bukhard Ziese and Isaac Paha are remaining tight lipped about the final composition of his squad.

Ziese took over from Milan Zivadinovic.