Johannesburg — The question of whether Didier Drogba will, or will not, play for Cote d'Ivoire in their key World Cup opener against Portugal overshadows Tuesday's Group F match in Port Elizabeth.

The talismanic striker, whose incredible scoring prowess is even better at national team level than the significant impact he has made in the English Premier League, is nursing a broken forearm.

On Sunday he trained for the first time since arriving in the country with his side last week, leading to speculation that he could play against the Portuguese in what is a crucial start to the West Africans' campaign - even if he only comes off the bench in the second half.

Drogba's influence on the Ivorian Elephants means they have gambled on his place in the 23-man squad despite the fact he underwent surgery only nine days ago, after breaking the ulna in a fall during a friendly with Japan in Switzerland.

With 41 goals in 68 appearances for his country, it is understandable why there is such a heavy reliance on his ability.

But there will have to be some sort of substitute for Drogba in Tuesday's match at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, either as the game goes on or in the starting line up in the captain's stead.

That responsibility is likely to fall to the inexperienced Seydou Doumbia, who has played just seven times before for the Cote d'Ivoire national side, but was named the best player of the just-completed Swiss League for his bevy of goals for the Young Boys Berne club, who won the championship.

Up against the Ivorians is an enigmatic Portuguese side, full of top stars but who scraped through the qualifying to take their place among the 32 finalists in South Africa.

Coached by the Mozambique-born Carlos Queiroz, their primary weapon is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is likely to keep the Ivorian defence busy through the match.

Ivorian coach Sven Goran Eriksson has also switched the tough tackling Didier Zokora from midfield to a role in the back four, which had been leaky at January's African Nations Cup finals.