WOOTTON Bassett rugby international Nick Warren's World Cup fate could be decided in the next eight days.

Headlands School teacher Warren and his Malta teammates face tough appointments with Serbia & Montenegro at home today and Bulgaria away next Saturday for a place in the third qualifying round for France 2007.

Malta are currently fourth in their five-strong second-round Pool D, after defeat to Poland and an excellent away win in Switzerland.

The Serbian match has captured the imagination of the Maltese public, 2,000 of whom are expected to turn up as the fixtures take place at Hibernians a football stadium for the first time.

Malta, ranked 54 in the world, defeated the fancied Serbs on their own patch last year and have also triumphed against strong sides such as Latvia as well as the Swiss.

Two wins will wrap up second spot at least for Warren and co, although third-placed teams in each of the four pools play-off for the right to move forward into the next phase.