The 2018 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers get underway on Thursday as Bolivia and Uruguay face off in a crucial opener for both teams.

For Uruguay, the game will be a monumental test in La Paz where the altitude always poses a major threat to opposing sides. Uruguay will be without talisman Luis Suarez for this opener due to his lingering suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup. The team will also be without Edinson Cavani as he received a ban in the Copa America this past summer.

So without the team's top two attacker Uruguay will turn to Christian Stuani and Abel Hernandez, the two leading scorers on the current squad. Stuani, 28, has five goals in 24 appearances while Hernandez has nine goals in 22. Cristian Rodriguez also has nine goals in the midfield, but he has played 88 games for his national side.

The lack of offense is troubling as it was a major reason for Uruguay's struggles in the Copa America; that team had the struggling Cavani leading the line.

Bolivia meanwhile will get a chance to make a statement. The team impressed in the Copa America this summer, managing a berth in the knockout rounds after navigating a group that included Chile and Mexico. Most expect Bolivia to be among the minnows of the qualification rounds, but the team will get a huge benefit of opening at home for this particular tournament against a team lacking a true identity.

Last time in the qualifiers Bolivia lost 4-2 against Uruguay in 2011 before torching the Celestes 4-1 a year later in La Paz.

Prediction: Bolivia will take advantage of a poor Uruguayan attack and win 2-1 at home.

The game will be available on beIN Sports and starts at 4 p.m. EDT.