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Ahn-finished business for S. Korea

Hiddink (C) with players Yun Jung-hwan (L) and Lee Young-pyo during a training session

DAEGU, South Korea (Reuters) -- South Korean fans are out in force for their final World Cup party as Turkey and co-hosts South Korea get set to serve up the hardest-fought third place play-off in years on Saturday.

Both sides have caused huge upsets, sweeping away traditional reputations and are unlikely to sit back and play what many teams in the past have seen as a friendly match for a consolation prize.

Four years ago, Guus Hiddink, now coach of South Korea, fielded a virtual second string outfit when the Netherlands lost 2-1 to Croatia in the play-off match.

South Korea's vocal red-clad fans are expected to pack the Daegu stadium to press the advantage of home support which helped them beat European big guns Portugal, Italy and Spain, after failing to pick up a single win in five previous tournaments.

Police estimated about 4.3 million of South Korea's 48 million people would take to the streets -- 1.77 million in central Seoul alone -- when the match kicks off at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT) in the southern Korean city of Daegu.

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"I'm not going to stop supporting Korean team because they failed to advance to the final," said Lee Ye-won, 22 who was among hundreds of supporters that gatherered early to stake a spot in front of giant outdoor screens at the major Kwanghwamoon intersection in central Seoul.

But Turkey will also be determined to make the most of their first appearance in the finals since 1954, with the speed and grit which has so far seen them unbeaten, except for two ties with finalists and tournament favourites Brazil.

"It's always good to go for third place, although it's what they call the 'little final.' But I think for both teams it's a big achievement," Hiddink said after a training session on Friday.

Hiddink thought the two sides were evenly matched.

"I worked for a year in Istanbul and I know a little about the character of Turkish players. It's a little bit comparable to Korean football. They like to play, they enjoy their football," he said.

No young Turks

Hiddink may again opt for youth over experience, as he did in Korea's semi-final against Germany, in which he picked 20-year-old Lee Chun-soo and 21-year-old Cha Du-ri for the frontline.

Ahn Jung-hwan is set to start up front for the hosts ahead of veteran striker Hwang Sun-hong, who is nursing an injured thigh.

Ahn has scored twice in the finals including heading home a golden goal to dispatch three-time champions Italy.

Hungry for success. Turkey's Umit Davala

A shuffle in defence is also possible if Choi Jin-cheul cannot shake off an ankle injury from Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Germany, with versatile midfielder Song Chong-gug a possible replacement.

But Turkish coach Senol Gunes ruled out any major changes to the line-up that took Turkey to the semi-finals. He said his team was tired but determined to focus on a whole-hearted performance on Saturday.

"I'll do whatever it takes for success. And it will be the same tomorrow. I'm not thinking of changing the team around," Gunes said.

"South Korea and Turkey are two countries upset at not making the finals. But if they had offered us a place in the third-place playoff before the World Cup, we would have happily accepted," Gunes said.

"South Korea have more World Cup experience than we do. We drew with them 0-0 in a friendly we played in Germany. They are a young, running team who break up their opponents' game and play their own game well."

"We will be the less rested team tomorrow and that might have an effect."

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