Here's some friendly advice from Belgium manager Roberto Martinez for his Wales counterpart Robert Page.

You may have heard that Wales have qualified for this year's World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years, while under former Swansea boss Martinez Belgium reached the semi-final four years ago.

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Belgium defender Thomas Meunier hopes Wales will be "still drunk" from their World Cup qualification celebrations when they meet tonight.

"It's never easy to come here, we saw that last time we came in the qualification game," the Borussia Dortmund man says.

"What can be positive for us is they qualified a few days ago and maybe they're still drunk from that victory, this could be an advantage!

"But no, the atmosphere, the team, that's why they qualified for the World Cup, and I'm expecting a tough game, I can't wait to get on the pitch."

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In recent times Wales and Belgium seem destined to be drawn against each other, which has made for some thrilling encounters.

Belgium are currently ranked second in the world, behind Brazil, and the Red Devils are regulars in Fifa's top 10.

Wales sit 18th and although they might not be so highly rated, the Dragons have Belgium's respect owing to a head-to-head record that has Wales just behind with five wins, four draws and six losses to tonight's visitors.

Their last encounter, a World Cup qualifier in Cardiff in November 2021, ended 1-1, earning a precious point for Wales that secured a home World Cup play-off semi-final - and we all know how that turned out.

The previous qualifier had seen Wales lose 3-1 in Leuven, with Belgium gaining some revenge for that famous Welsh win in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

Here's hoping for another quality nail-biter tonight.

Whether it's Cardiff City, the Premier League, Major League Soccer or elsewhere, it looks like we can rule out one potential destination for Gareth Bale.

He won't be leaving Real Madrid for fellow La Liga side Getafe, as he says himself.

Helen Ward
Wales' all-time record scorer on BBC Radio Wales

I suspect he's got an idea, he always keeps his cards very close to his chest.

I think the Championship is below his level, no disrespect to Cardiff City or any teams in the Championship. Physically it's a league where he's going to get kicked and have to play games every two or three days.

I think there's some clubs in the top 10 of the Premier League who would catch his eye - someone like Newcastle. They're after big signings to start this new project.

With Wales closer to full strength tonight, captain Gareth Bale is back in the starting line-up.

He looked short of his best when he started against Ukraine last Sunday, probably owing to the fact he'd only played 20 minutes for Real Madrid since March before that massive encounter.

Wales manager Robert Page says Bale needs to play regular club football next season in order to be in peak condition for November's World Cup in Qatar.

The forward, 32, is a free agent after leaving Real Madrid at the end of his contract and has been linked with a host of clubs, including Cardiff City.

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If you were thinking 'Wales seemed to have played a lot of games recently', you'd be right.

Their Nations League opener against Poland on 1 June started a run of five games in 14 days that will only end with a trip to face the Netherlands again on Tuesday, 14 June.

So one World Cup play-off final sandwiched between four Nations League games, all coming at the end of a hectic club season.

Understandably, Gareth Bale has called on football's governing bodies to prioritise player welfare above money.

The 32-year-old has warned there will be consequences for the health of players if the congested football calendar seen in 2022 continues.

"They need to look after players, without the players there is no product," said Bale.

"There will be consequences in the long term, people's bodies can't deal with that kind of calendar year after year."

Bale's views have been backed by Belgium defender Thomas Meunier and you can read more of their thoughts here.

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One player who is almost certain to be at the World Cup is centre-back Joe Rodon.

The 24-year-old has been a key member of Wales' squad for a couple of years and played a big role in helping them qualify for a first World Cup in 64 years.

But Rodon has found playing time hard to come by at club level since joining Tottenham in October 2020 and has made just 15 appearances in the Premier League since arriving.

Both Wales manager Rob Page and forward Gareth Bale have called for Rodon to get more playing time at Spurs.

Read more here.

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While wins are the primary aim in these Nations League encounters, they also provide the bulk of the games that Wales boss Rob Page can use to fine-tune his World Cup squad.

Page called up 27 players for the current international window and there are only 23 spaces up for grabs in Qatar next November.

Wales' strength in depth has steadily built since the revolution begun by the late Wales manager Gary Speed and Page has some enviable options compared to some of his predecessors.

It's a nice problem to have, but it does mean there are some tough choices and lengthy selection discussions ahead for the Wales backroom staff.

A good example is Sheffield United defender Rhys Norrington-Davies, who put down a marker with an all-action, goal-scoring performance when given his chance in the midweek game against the Netherlands.

You can read more about Wales' selection dilemmas and possible bolters here.

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Belgium have their own injury problems and boss Roberto Martinez is without Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, fellow forwards Dries Mertens and Charles De Ketelaere, plus Lille midfielder Amadou Onana and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

But only De Ketelaere, off the bench, featured in their 6-1 midweek thumping of Poland and Martinez has not rested key figures for this evening's match.

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi - on loan at Besiktas - and Leicester City's Youri Tielemans all start for the Red Devils, with Atlético Madrid's Yannick Carrasco getting the nod in attack in place of Real Madrid's Eden Hazard.

Belgium: Casteels, Theate, Boyata, Dendoncker, Trossard, Witsel, Tielemans, Meunier, Carrasco, Batshuayi, De Bruyne (C)

Subs: Sels, Mignolet, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Openda, E Hazard, Preat, T Hazard, Januzaj, Vanaken, Castagne, Saelemaekers

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Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey handed manager Rob Page a boost after recovering from the knock that ruled him out of the Netherlands loss.

Unsurprisingly the Burnley stopper - the hero of the play-off win - starts tonight in a side that has much more of a full-strength look to it.

Page made seven changes against the Dutch after the World Cup qualification efforts against Ukraine and back come Gareth Bale, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Allen and Neco Williams.

Ampadu, who has mainly featured in defence for Wales, starts in midfield alongside Allen and Harry Wilson this evening.

That means no starting spot for Aaron Ramsey, who is named among the substitutes.

Wales are without keeper Danny Ward due to a knee injury suffered against the Netherlands, midfielder Joe Morrell with a broken toe and striker Kieffer Moore who has withdrawn from the squad with a back injury.

Wales: Hennessey, Mepham, Rodon, B Davies, N Williams, Roberts, Allen, Ampadu, Wilson, Bale (C), James

Subs: King, A Davies, Gunter, Johnson, Ramsey, Colwill, Smith, Norrington-Davies, J Williams, Harris, Thomas, Burns

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Good evening and welcome to this evening's coverage of Wales v Belgium in a Nations League match from Cardiff City Stadium.

This time last weekend Wales were preparing for a momentous World Cup play-off final against Ukraine the following day, but with the job done and the plane to Qatar booked, it is the Nations League that now occupies the thoughts of Rob Page and his Wales players.

Having lost 2-1 to Poland in their opener and then succumbed to the Netherlands in midweek by the same score, Wales sit bottom of Group A4 and are in need of a positive result against Belgium tonight.

The team sheets are in, so let's start with a look at the line-ups.