BURNLEY striker Sam Vokes is set to win his 50th Wales cap in Serbia and is adamant Chris Coleman's experienced squad can prosper without Gareth Bale.

Vokes will miss his strike partner more than most on Sunday as Real Madrid forward Bale serves a one-match ban for picking up two bookings in 2018 World Cup qualifying.

The onus on the Clarets ace to lead the line in Belgrade was also thrown into sharper focus when Hal Robson-Kanu withdrew from the squad with a leg injury on Thursday night.

But Vokes is confident that Wales possess the necessary strength in depth to keep alive ambitions of reaching the finals in Russia next year.

"Of course we're going to miss Gareth," Vokes said. "But there's a good core group of players here who have won a lot of caps.

"That's important because that experience comes into it for games like the one on Sunday.

"A lot of those lads have been in those situations before and are ready for the big atmosphere there. You have to deal with it at international level, and we've experienced it before home and away.

"To go to these sort of places under pressure is something we know about."

Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales are unbeaten in Group D, but four successive draws have left them playing catch-up behind leaders Serbia and the Republic of Ireland.

They are four points behind the top two at the halfway stage, and defeat in Belgrade would seriously undermine their qualification hopes.

"We've picked up draws in this group when we've been the dominant team and needed to get the win," Vokes said.

"It's time to stand up now and get those points we need on the board. We can still make this group wide open, and we still have a massive chance of qualifying.

"The games will come thick and fast when the new season starts, and if we get a good result in Serbia we can take the momentum into those games."

Vokes will reach his half-century of caps nine years after making his debut in a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland in May 2008.

And the 27-year-old heads to Belgrade in fine form having finished the Premier League season with five goals in as many games.

"It was nice to end the season scoring goals, but it was great to be part of that team this year," Vokes said.

"It was a successful season for us at Burnley to stay in the league, and now it would be a massive honour if I can get that 50th cap.

"I remember my debut in Iceland very well, and to think I'm nearly on 50 caps now is crazy.

"Obviously there have been some dark days, but it's been a fantastic journey."