MARK Hughes is confident that his all-conquering Wales side will not face meltdown in the stifling heat here in Belgrade when they square-up with Serbia and Montenegro tomorrow.

The Welsh chief is thanking his lucky stars that Britain has, for once, been blessed with a blistering heatwave this summer so his stars have been able to train and play in sizzling heat similar to the sweltering temperatures in the former Yugoslav republic.

Forecasters say temperatures will reach 40 degrees centigrade in the middle of the day - and Hughes said today: "It is extremely warm and very humid.

"But it would have been more of a concern for me if we hadn't just experienced a heat-wave ourselves back home.

"All the players have been training and playing in temperatures like this for the past month to six weeks, so I don't think it will have that great an impact on our players.

When Group Nine pace-setters Wales, with an unblemished 100 percent record, line-up with the Serbians tomorrow evening in this massive Euro 2004 qualifier, temperatures are expected to be around 25 degrees centigrade - but the extreme humidity will be Hughes' primary concern for his players.

Hughes this morning declared a clean bill of health for his squad.

With striker John Hartson and defender Andy Melville left at home receiving treatment of calf and foot problems respectively, Hughes has no problems with his men that have made the trip.

"We trained yesterday and everybody came through that," he said. "So I don't anticipate any of the players having a problem."

Hughes can't wait to get to grips with the off-form Serbians, but his side's first objective is to silence the volatile home support inside the Red Star Stadium tomorrow.

"I imagine it will be a hostile crowd and we must correct that," said the former Manchester United hero.

"I expect Serbia to come out very strongly so, if we limit them to very few chances in the first period, that will enable us to get a foothold in the game and we can build from there.

"We are dangerous on the counter-attack," said Hughes.

"It is important to build on the good four-match winning run we've enjoyed in this qualifying campaign. I'm pleased with the attitude of my players, they're full of confidence and I'm looking for a good performance."