Holland coach Marco van Basten insists he does not look at his players birth certificates when picking a squad - only their ability.

Van Basten's side take on Luxembourg on Saturday before facing Belarus four days later as they look to get off to a good start in the qualifying group.

However, the former AC Milan star has refuted claims he has culled the senior members of his squad in favour of an injection of youth.

"Players that have retired or were left out of the squad, have been replaced by younger players," said Van Basten.

"That is a coincidence. When we pick players we don't look at their age but at their technical and tactical skills.

"We are not building a younger team for the sake of building a younger team; we are changing things to achieve."

Van Basten, though, is fully confident this group of players can achieve success and qualify for the showpiece event in Switzerland and Austria

He added: "I think this group is ripe enough to win both difficult and easy matches.

"Stijn Schaars for example is a very sensible player; he might even have more experience than a player 32-years-old.

"Demy de Zeeuw also plays sensibly. That is something you always have with you. Even when you are not match fit, you can rely on your senses and bring that into the match."

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie appears to have recovered from a knee injury. Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong could miss the Luxembourg match with a groin injury but should return for the Belarus clash.

Despite, their lowly placing of 195 in the FIFA world rankings, Van Basten is not prepared to take their opponents lightly.

He said: "In the qualification games for the World Cup we saw how difficult it is for us, when we play against teams that are only trying to avoid conceding goals.

"Take for example our matches against Andorra and FYR Macedonia. This match will be similar to those and we will have very little space to express ourselves."

He continued: "There always is a chance you could lose a game like this one. That is why I want to win this game first and think about how high the score was later."

Luxembourg coach Guy Hellers has called up three new faces for the qualifier with the mighty Oranje.

Ben Payal, Jacques Plein and Miralem Pjanic could all make their debuts for the team from the Grandy Duchy.

Siblings Alphonse and Charles Leweck are both ruled out of the match through injury.