World champions Italy, European champions Spain, France and Germany also have a break as their rivals slug it out.
Spain have maximum points in Group Five, while the unbeaten Italians sit atop Group Eight, meaning the pressure today is all on the Republic of Ireland, who could go top by a single point if they end the challenge of Bulgaria away.
“It is the last game of the season for us and probably one of the biggest we have ever had,” Ireland’s Manchester City defender Richard Dunne said.
Germany are sitting pretty top of Group Four, with Guus Hiddink’s Russia four points behind albeit with a game more to play.
As both sides sit it out for now, Finland will attempt to draw to within two points of Russia by defeating minnows Liechtenstein, while also-rans Azerbaijan and Wales meet in Baku.
France will meanwhile be keen observers as Group Seven leaders Serbia, whom the French must still play away, seek to build on a two-point advantage at home to Austria.
Lithuania, trailing the French by a point having played a game more, can leapfrog Les Bleus into second place if they win at home to struggling Romania.
Group Nine is all but settled, with the Netherlands having won all five games so far ahead of a trip to Iceland.
If Iceland can pull off a shock win they would go level on points with Scotland, who are without a game this week.
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