Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has a plan to contain Lionel Messi in the final Group B encounter but admits Argentina have plenty of other threats which need taking care of.

World player of the year Messi is the stand-out player in a squad of immense talent and Rehhagel believes just to focus on the Barcelona star would leave them open to failings elsewhere.

Having secured the first World Cup win in their history last time out against Nigeria, Greece have a chance of qualifying for the second round if they can better South Korea's result against the point-less Nigeria.

"I am aware we are playing against Messi, the best player in the world," said Rehhagel.

"I am not going to tell you how we are going to stop Messi because we don't give secrets away.

"But wherever he turns up we will try to attack him - but no team has been able to stop him yet.

"For the game Carlos Tevez will not play and Diego Milito will take his place but it makes no difference because Argentina have a lot of world-class players."

However, Konstantinos Katsouranis, celebrating his 31st birthday, gave an indication of what the plan was.

"One player cannot stop Messi but a team as a whole, yes, we can limit him and that is what we are going to do."

Rehhagel admits his team's chances against the South Americans are slim but, considering some of the shock results so far at this World Cup, the veteran German has not given up hope.

"Every player has to play 110% and the game starts at 0-0," he added. "We have a chance and at the end I hope we don't say we have missed an opportunity.

"We will try to find the right way to hold our own in the individual positions to provide resistance.

"We will just see how we are going to stand up against the Argentinians.

"It is a big game for us because Argentina have world-class players but we have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has dismissed suggestions he might rest Messi, insisting it would be a "sin" to deprive the public of seeing the best player on the planet.

Prior to the start of the World Cup there had been concerns about Messi`s state of health following a gruelling season with Barcelona and the 22-year-old then played the full 90 minutes in Argentina`s opening two matches against Nigeria and South Korea.

With Argentina having won both those games to establish a three-point lead at the top of Group B heading into the final round of fixtures, it might have crossed Maradona`s mind to give Messi a break for the clash with Greece.

That prospect seemed even more likely as Maradona tested a radically different team in training to the one that beat South Korea 4-1, with Messi one of those not involved.

However, Maradona insisted the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year would feature in the match in Polokwane.

"Lionel Messi always wants to play and I thought I should give him a break (in training) but if you have a player as good as Leo, who is the best player in the world, I think it would be a sin not to give Messi to the people, to the team, and leave out the player who can certainly make the difference in a match," said Maradona, whose side are not yet guaranteed a place in the last 16 as three teams can still finish on six points in Group B.

"We of course wanted to give Lionel Messi a break (in training). He will play."

Maradona also played down Messi`s lack of success in front of goal.

The Barca ace had plenty of chances to score against Nigeria and South Korea but could not make the most of them, with great goalkeeping denying him on a number of occasions.

"If Messi is having a bad run then let him continue with that bad run because I'm extremely pleased with Messi`s performances," said Maradona.

"He goes out to play and help his team-mates. Leo helps define the match and creates things for the other players."