JUSSI Jaaskelainen is hoping he will not be wasting his time when he teams up with the Finland squad on Thursday.

The in-form Wanderers' keeper won his 10th international cap when he helped the Finns hold Denmark to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Copenhagen but fears he may have to revert to his accustomed understudy role for the European Championship qualifiers away to Azerbaijan on Saturday and in Wales next Wednesday.

Southampton's Antti Niemi, who has been capped 52 times, is back in the squad after injury problems and aiming to regain his position as his country's first choice, leaving Jaaskelainen wondering if he is in for a frustrating trip.

His concerns follow the comments of Finland coach Antti Muurinen, who said: "It is looking good for Niemi at the moment. He played in a reserve game on Tuesday and said that he did not suffer a reaction to his knee injury."

"Hopefully I get a game," the Reebok shot-stopper said. "It's not nice to sit on the bench but Niemi is fit and fighting for his place again.

"I just hope I can go there and get one of the games because, whether it's for your club or your country, it's always nice to play football.

"You want to play games. But I'll probably only know an hour before kick-off as usual!"

Finland are second bottom of Group 9 - six points behind leaders Wales with just two games to play - and have no chance of qualifying for the finals but Muurinen wants them to finish on a high.

Jaaskelainen flies out pleased with his form, having recorded his first shut-out in Wanderers' scoreless draw with Charlton after conceding 10 goals in his first three Premiership games.

His save from Addicks' skipper Matt Holland just before half-time proved crucial but he played down the fuss, saying: "It is just important to always keep your focus.

"In the first three games I conceded 10 goals but didn't make many saves because the scoring chances were that good that I had no chance at all. It's like that in the Premiership because you can got two or three games without having a save to make but you always make sure you go into the next game staying focused."

Jaaskelainen's new team-mate, Stelios, is expected to start for Group Six leaders Greece, who go to Armenia for the penultimate game of their campaign.

The Greeks head Group 6 and are expected to qualify for the finals in Portugal.