Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz admitted Wednesday his team are not expecting to face star Uruguay striker Luis Suarez when the two sides clash in the World Cup on Saturday in Fortaleza.

Suarez underwent an operation on his knee on May 22 and has since been facing a race against time to play any part in the World Cup group stages.

He himself recently dismissed speculation he would even be fit for Uruguay's second match against England a week on Thursday in Sao Paulo.

"Given what he's said we're not expecting him to play and we're working on other options with other players," said on-loan PSV Eindhoven forward Ruiz.

Even if Liverpool forward Suarez is fit, Ruiz, whose parent club is Fulham, says his team-mates will be ready.

"I played against him in Holland (when Suarez was at Ajax and Ruiz at FC Twente) and in England and the defenders have been warned about what can happen, about his style of play," added Ruiz, 28.

Young midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda is one hoping not to line up against Suarez on Saturday.

"Suarez is a player the whole world knows about, he's scoring so many goals in England," said the 22-year-old, who plays for Saprissa in his homeland.

"If he's not there it will be to our benefit. (But) we can't just think about Suarez, there's (Edinson) Cavani and (Diego) Forlan and other players who score goals."

Costa Rica suffered a blow earlier with the news that fullback Heiner Mora has had to withdraw from their squad because of a broken heel.

The 29-year-old suffered the injury in a training session on Tuesday at their base in Santos.

Dave Myrie has been called up as a replacement.

Myrie, 26, made his international debut in 2010 but has had a nomadic club career taking in 10 clubs in four different countries.

Meanwhile, Uruguay defender Diego Godin says his side's only aim at the World Cup is to get through their tough group, which also includes Italy.

"We're confident and we believe in our potential. We're dreaming just like the three million Uruguayans are dreaming that things go spectacularly well for us," he said.

"With our feet on the ground, we're not thinking beyond the match with Costa Rica.

"It's the start and it's going to be very difficult. Our aim is to get through the group, we're not thinking beyond that."