Hiddink still focused as Anzhi face CSKA
Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala, who will be looking for a new coach next season, can gauge how far they have come in a relatively short time when they entertain Russian Premier League leaders CSKA Moscow on Sunday.
Guus Hiddink's shock announcement this week of his decision to retire came out of the blue for Anzhi
But the 66-year-old, who has managed Real Madrid and Chelsea, did admit that a run at the Champions League with Anzhi next season could tempt him to stay on a year longer.
The Dagestan club, who have Samuel Eto'o in attack, are currently second, three points behind CSKA, after 17 games and Hiddink's hint has left the Anzhi players knowing what they have to do to change his mind.
"CSKA are a strong squad, which has already clinched success at domestic and European level," the Dutchman said on Thursday.
"And they lead the league deservedly.
"Anzhi also topped the table not so long ago but we failed to stay there for a long time. And we have plenty of work to do to move to the top again."
CSKA will again be without injured forwards Seydou Doumbia and Tomas Necid as well as Chilean winger Marc Gonzalez.
Champions Zenit St Petersburg, who are experiencing a difficult time after being handed a technical defeat for their fans' unruly behaviour in the away match with Dynamo Moscow, will face another Moscow club, Spartak, on Friday.
The old rivals represented Russia in the Champions League but both have dropped out after the group stage.
Spartak, meanwhile, sacked Spanish manager Unai Emery this week after a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of city rivals Dynamo.
General manager Valery Karpin, who led Spartak to the runners-up spot last season, took over the nine-time Russia's champions again as an interim coach.
Spartak will be without skipper Sergei Parshivlyuk, Irish midfielder Aiden McGeady and goalkeeper Artem Rebrov.
Wing back Yevgeny Makeev is also uncertain for the match after suffering a minor knee injury against Dynamo.
Zenit have ordered 5 000 tickets for their fans, who will have to submit valid pasport details in order to secure a place in the ground in an attempt to avoid a repetition of the crowd trouble which cost the club three points against Dynamo.
Dynamo, who are showing serious progress under Romanian manager Dan Petrescu, take on Rubin Kazan in a match to be played behind closed doors.
Dynamo's Russian international striker Alexander Kokorin is doubtful after suffering a minor injury in the match with Spartak.
Fixtures
Friday
FC Krasnodar v Kuban Krasnodar, Spartak Moscow v Zenit St Petersburg
Saturday
Volga Nizhny Novgorod v Terek Grozny, Alania Vladikavkaz v Lokomotiv Moscow, Dynamo Moscow v Rubin Kazan
Sunday
Anzhi Makhachkala v CSKA Moscow, Samara v Rostov
Monday
Saransk v Amkar Perm
