Uruguay's recovering striker Luis Suarez will not start against Costa Rica in their World Cup Group D opener on Saturday (Sunday AEST), said coach Oscar Tabarez.

Suarez had keyhole surgery on his left knee three weeks ago and, although he been recovering well, Tabarez said he did not want to push him into starting Saturday's match.

Struggling with injury: Luis Suarez. Credit:AP

"We're just about to go out and train here but unless anything happens my starting lineup will be as follows," Tabarez told a news conference on Friday at Fortaleza's Castelao Arena.

He then listed his starting 11, omitting Suarez and naming Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan as his two strikers.