JAKARTA -- The names of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are included in the Wales national squad for the World Cup play-off match against Austria next week. Although Bale and Ramsey's playing time at the club was very limited, both of them were still called up to defend the Wales national team.

Captain Bale became the second Welshman to play 100 games for the national team against Belarus in November, although a storm of injuries has plagued him this season. The 32-year-old has made just two appearances for Real Madrid since late August, with the only appearance coming against Villarreal in a La Liga game last month.

Midfielder Ramsey, 31, has started just two games for Rangers since joining the Glasgow club on loan from Juventus in January. The winners of Wales' clash with Austria in Cardiff on March 24 will face either Scotland or Ukraine in September for a place at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

The other semifinals in Group A were postponed to June following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wales manager Robert Page said on Wednesday he was not concerned about Bale and Ramsey when he announced the 26-man squad for the game against Austria and friendlies against unconfirmed opponents the following week.

"They are big players for us and of course we want them to play a game when they enter training camp," he said.

"But the good thing is that they are both getting fitter, excited for the game and can't wait to get into the camp. Big players show up for big games. They have proven that time and time again and have done it time and time again."

Wales, seeking to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1958, have lost Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward to knee surgery. Meanwhile, Burnley veteran Wayne Hennessey will make his 99th appearance against Austria. Strikers Kieffer Moore and Tyler Roberts as well as defender James Lawrence will all miss out through injury.