The next two qualifiers for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand could be known this weekend © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Georgia | Portugal | Romania | Russia

Sites: Other countries

Georgia and Russia could book their places at the 2011 Rugby World Cup this weekend with victories in their latest European Nations Cup (ENC) clashes.

Victory for Georgia against Spain in Tiblissi will see them qualify for the sport's showpiece event for the third consecutive time having made their debut in Australia in 2003 and picked up their first win - over Namibia - four years later in France. With two more rounds of ENC action after this weekend, a win would guarantee them a minimum of 25 points* which would put them out of the reach of all their rivals except Russia. The top two teams in the ENC, contested over the last two years, will qualify for RWC'11.

A similar result for Russia in their clash with Romania in Sotchi would also be enough for them to qualify for the World Cup for the very first time. A victory will guarantee them a minimum of 24 points - a figure unobtainable by rivals Romania or Portugal and therefore they too would be assured of finishing in the top two of Europe's second tier competition.

The teams will qualify as either Europe 1 or 2 - and join either Pool B or Pool C at RWC'11 -although which side fills which berth is unlikely to be decided until the two sides meet Georgia on neutral soil in Turkey on March 20.

Georgia currently lead the race for the European Nations Cup title having secured six victories and a draw so far in the competition that traditionally spans two years but will be condensed to one as of next season. Russia are just a point adrift of Georgia with their only defeat coming at the hands of their rivals last year. Portugal, who held Georgia to a draw in their first meeting but were beaten in the return earlier this month, are third a further five points back with Romania two points behind them.

Both Portugal and Romania retain slim hopes of securing automatic qualification although their best hopes looks to be the third place that offers another qualification lifeline. That team would then face either Lithuania or the Division 2A winner for the right to enter the cross-continental play-off, where they will have to beat Tunisia to earn the right to play Uruguay or the Asian Five Nations runner-up to determine the 20th and final qualifier for RWC 2011.

If Georgia and Russia were to suffer surprise defeats on home soil then the race to secure Europe's two direct qualification berths would be thrown wide open, especially if Portugal also overcome Germany in Heusenstamm on Saturday.

* The Europan Nations Cup operates under the following points system - 3 points for a win, 2 for a draw and 1 for a loss

Rugby World Cup 2011 - Pool Draw:
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Canada, Asia 1 (Asian Five Nations winner)
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Europe 1 (European Nations Cup winner), Play-Off winner
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, USA, Europe 2 (European Nations Cup runner-up)
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Namibia