Angola, surprise qualifiers in 2006, face a must win match away to Benin to avoid this campaign ending swiftly in Group 3.
Nigeria are running away with Group 4 with a 100% record, but fellow giants Ghana still have work to do in Group 5, and must win in Libya to ensure their place in Stage 3.
Group 6 sees Senegal hoping to clinch their place with a win in Algeria, with Gambia still in contention. Ivory Coast should top Group 7 with a win in Mozambique. Perennial qualifiers Morocco will be through to Round 3 with a win over Ethiopia in Group 8.
Burkina Faso are the surprise team of the tournament so far, they lead Group 9 ahead of Tunisia with a 100% record, having won in Tunisia. They will clinch the group should they complete a famous double at home.
Mali lead Group 10, with Chad surrounded in controversy having been barred from the African Nations Qualifying (the campaign serves as qualifiers for both tournaments), but allowed to compete by FIFA for the World Cup places.
There looks unlikely to be a repeat of Togo's unlikely qualification in 2006, as they recover from the shocking violence that marred their match with Mali in the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier. They currently sit bottom of Group 11.
Group 12 sees DR Congo battling with Egypt for top spot, with the winners of their meeting ensured progress to Round 3.
This is certainly a marathon not a sprint!
AFC & OFC
This weekend sees the big kick-off in the final stage of the Asian Qualifying zone, with Australia competing in the zone for the first time. After an already gruelling series, they are joined in Group A by Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, and Qatar.
Australia kick off with a tough tie in Uzbekistan next Wednesday, with Japan starting away to Bahrain on Saturday. Bahrain then travel to Qatar on Wednesday.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the finals, with the two third placed teams playing off for the chance to meet the top qualifier from the Oceania zone for the final qualifying place.
New Zealand will ensure that they are the Oceanic representatives in that match if they can defeat New Caledonia in Noumea on Saturday.
How about an Australia v New Zealand match up for a place in the World Cup Finals? It could well happen.
Group B in Asia looks set to be very closely fought. It consists of both Korea Republic (South Korea) and Korea DPR (North Korea), and if they could fight to the death for top spot they probably would do. Iran and Saudi Arabia have a history of qualification, but will find their record serverely tested in this group that also includes UAE.
UAE kick off proceedings against Korea DPR on Saturday, followed by Saudi Arabia vs Iran. The first of the Korean derbies takes place on Wednesday, in Shanghai, China, because of a row over the playing of the National Anthems the last time they met. That match could be a bit tasty!
CONCACAF
The third of four stages of the North and Central American qualifying campaign began in August, with 12 teams left in three groups of four.
In Group 1, Trinidad and the USA will be expected to qualify for the final six team group, and they both started with a win. USA visit Cuba on Saturday, followed by a home tie Trinidad on Wednesday. Trinidad precede that match with a home game against Guatemala.
Group 2 sees Sven-Goran Eriksson's Mexico play Jamaica and Canada in successive home games on Saturday and Wednesday. With Honduras the other team in this interesting group, that should be tight.
Costa Rica will be expected to coast through Group 3, and having already beaten El Salvador they should have to much quality for Surinam and Haiti, whom they meet this week.
The top two teams in each of the three groups qualify for Round 4, with the top three teams from Round 4 qualifying for the World Cup. The 4th placed team will then play off against the 5th placed team from South America for the final qualification spot.
If you have read all the way to here, well done!
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