BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand host in-form Bahrain in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Monday knowing only a win will keep their stuttering campaign alive.

Thailand's campaign to reach their first ever World Cup finals in 2010 has begun dismally, with two losses in as many games leaving them bottom of Asian Group 2.

Bahrain are the surprise leaders with two wins out of two. The Gulf team won 0-1 away at Oman in February and then upset Japan 1-0 in March.

Thailand meanwhile lost 4-1 away to regional powerhouse Japan in February, and then suffered a shock 0-1 defeat at home to Oman in March.

But they will take heart from last week's 2-1 friendly win over Asian champions Iraq, which followed Thai league all-stars' 3-1 humbling of England's Manchester City, owned by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"We beat Iraq, we beat Manchester City. These are very good teams," Thailand coach Charnwit Polcheewin told reporters.

"They are psychological victories for us."

Thai strikers Teerathep Winothai and Teerasil Dangda, who both scored against Iraq, will be hoping to stay in the goals against Bahrain at Bangkok's Rajamangala stadium.

"We can beat Bahrain on our own soil," insisted Teerathep.

In preparation for Monday's match, Bahrain travelled to Singapore for a friendly on May 28. Bahrain won 0-1, with Hamad Al Anezi scoring in the 82nd minute.

In the four previous clashes between Thailand and Bahrain, each team has won once, and there have been two 1-1 draws. In the last of those matches, a 2004 encounter in Bangkok, Bahrain won 2-0.

Bahrain host Thailand on June 7 in another qualifier, but the match will be irrelevant for the Thai side if they fail to secure three points on Monday.

Elsewhere on June 2, Japan host Oman. Japan will travel to Thailand for a June 14 match before the Thai team's final qualifying game in Oman on June 22.