Hamburg  - Germany will make at least five changes from the team that beat Russia when they take on Finland in Hamburg on Wednesday in their last World Cup qualifying game, coach Joachim Loew said on Tuesday.

VfB Stuttgart striker Cacau will begin the game, while changes in defence and midfield will see Hoffenheim's Andreas Beck at right-back, Hertha Berlin's Arne Friedrich in central defence, and Thomas Hitzlsperger in midfield alongside Hamburg's Piotr Trochowski.

Captain Michael Ballack will play only half the game or 60 minutes and be replaced by Wolfsburg's Christian Gendtner.

Loew said he had "one or two other considerations" to make depending on the team's final training session.

Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler will stay in goal, with rivals Tim Wiese and Manuel Neuer pencilled in for remaining friendlies this year.

Hanover's Robert Enke, who is recovering from an infection and will only resume training this week, will not be considered again until next year, Loew said.

Germany's 1-0 win in Moscow Saturday sealed qualification for next year's World Cup, while Finland can no longer threaten Russia in second place.

Loew said the game "should be fun but we will approach it an all seriousness."

He added: "We can assure everyone we will take it seriously. We have eight wins and one draw and we want to end the qualification without defeat and with a win."

Loew described the match as "basically the start of the World Cup preparation" with two friendlies to follow next month and one in March before he names his squad for the tournament.

"It is a chance for players to show whether they are right for such a tournament," he said.(dpa)