PREVIEW-Soccer-Rehhagel urges Greece to prove their worth

By Graham Wood

ATHENS, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has called on his players to show they are worthy of a place at the 2010 World Cup when they take on Ukraine in their two-legged playoff.

The 2004 European Champions host Ukraine at the Olympic Stadium in Athens before travelling to Donetsk for the return four days later with a place in South Africa up for grabs.

"We have reached the end of the road," said the 71-year-old German after Greece's first training session. "It is in these matches where you have to prove that you deserve your prize."

The omens appear to favour an improved Ukraine team who secured their playoff berth ahead of Croatia thanks to a 6-0 win over Andorra in their final Group Six match.

It was Ukraine who were responsible for Greece's failure to reach the last World Cup after they won in Athens to qualify ahead of the Greeks.

Rehhagel, whose team earned their playoff spot by virtue of victories over Latvia and Luxembourg in their final two Group Two qualifiers, are boosted by the return to fitness of striker Angelos Charisteas.

The Nuremberg striker is likely to team up with Theofanis Gekas, the top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals, and Celtic's Giorgos Samaras in a three-pronged attack.

Greece will also be relying heavily on in-form Panathinaikos midfielder Kostas Katsouranis, who is confident Greece will be on the plane to South Africa.