MARK Hughes knows the first qualification hurdle will be the hardest for Wales as they look to make the cut for the 2004 European Championships.

His red army tackle the Russians in a mammoth two-leg Euro 2004 play-off as Wales aim to remove the major championships millstone from around their necks.

Wales last reached the finals of a major tournament back in 1958 when Jimmy Murphy's men reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Sweden before losing 1-0 to eventual winners Brazil in Gothenburg.

Now Welsh chief Hughes is mapping out his battle plan to destroy the Russian defence in the hope that it could open the major championship floodgates for his country.

"Achieving our first qualification will always be the hardest," said the 40-year-old Manchester United legend.

"It is extremely difficult to reach a major championships but when you qualify once then it becomes a little easier to accomplish that feat again as we won't be a fourth seed anymore but a third or second seed.

"Then you don't have to overcome as many good teams in the qualification campaign for the major championships of the next few years."

Hughes also realises the lucrative cash bonus for the Football Association of Wales if the national side do pull off their ultimate goal.

It is estimated the FAW would hit a £5million jackpot if Wales qualify for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal, £3.3million in prize-money from UEFA plus extra sponsorship and corporate bonuses.

"The importance of qualification cannot be underestimated," Hughes told the Argus.

Wales face the chill of Moscow on Saturday for the play-off first-leg before the return game in Cardiff a week tomorrow. And Hughes insists his players don't need to be told of their incentive to beat the Russians.

"We're two games away from where we want to be," he pointed-out.

"We have a great opportunity to do something a Welsh side hasn't done. We need to recognise that opportunity and grasp it.

"The older players could view it as this might be their last chance of playing in a major tournament whereas the younger members of the squad should view it as an opportunity that may not come along again.

"I will need big performances from each and every one of my players in both legs. If they produce to the best of their capabilities then we'll go very close.

"In the first-leg in Moscow, we're not there to entertain the Russian public but there to do a job. We hope it's a good spectacle but we'll make no apologies if it's a bad game and we get a draw or even win.

"My players understand what is at stake. They'll be the best-prepared Welsh team ever." Hughes revealed that Simon Davies (thigh injury) would not travel to Russia for the first leg and was very doubtful for the return.

Fulham's Mark Pembridge (calf) and Sheffield Utd defender Robert Page (ankle) also miss the trip to Moscow, but could be available for the crunch in Cardiff, while Reading centre-back Adrian Williams will be out for several weeks with a knee injury.