PREVIEW - Argentina no certainties for direct qualification

By Rex Gowar

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina are favourites to come out on top of Wednesday's three-way race for South America's remaining World Cup place and a playoff berth.

When the Argentines meet Uruguay at the iconic Centenario in Montevideo needing a draw to secure their place at the 2010 finals they will, however, be no sure thing.

Ecuador, who visit qualified Chile, are also vying for one of the two places, including fifth which sends the occupants into a two-leg playoff against the team finishing fourth in the CONCACAF region.

Diego Maradona's Argentina team have disappointed as they stumble through the qualifiers, blindly hoping for miracles like Saturday's at River Plate's Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

Martin Palermo, 35 and recalled by his country after a 10-year international absence, scored two minutes into stoppage time to hand Argentina a 2-1 victory over Peru in a dramatic, rain-soaked finale.

Having dominated the first half and gone ahead through Gonzalo Higuain two minutes into the second, they allowed Peru to take the upper hand and conceded a 90th-minute equaliser.

MESSI MYSTERY