Australia focused for Jordan clash

The Socceroos head into Tuesday's (Wednesday morning AEST) crunch match in Amman buoyed by a 3-0 win over Lebanon on Friday, a result that snapped a four-game winless streak.

While Holger Osieck's side was always likely to prove too strong for 124th-ranked Lebanon, there was plenty of encouraging signs, particularly in attack.

And with two draws from its opening two games of the final phase of qualification, the Socceroos will want to continue with the same positive mindset against Jordan to register full points.

"Obviously it wasn't against the strongest of opponents but it's good to get the confidence up and to score three goals is great," said striker Robbie Kruse.

"We had some good structure there but the real test is on Tuesday.

"It's come to the point where it's vital for us to get the three points and we know it's going to be a tough test."

While 87th-ranked Jordan has picked up just a point from its opening two qualifiers in this stage, Australia know all too well not to underestimate any opponents from within Asia.

The sides have never met before but Australia has faced many similar challenges in the region and vow to be well prepared in Amman.

"We've done our homework and we know what to expect," defender Jade North said. "We've played a number of teams from the Middle East now so we know what we're up against. It's all about turning up on the day."

Australia sits third in Group B on two points, behind Iraq on goal difference, and risk losing further ground on early runaway leaders Japan (7 points), who host the Iraqis on Tuesday night.

With only the top two teams in the group securing automatic qualification, Osieck will not want to be on the back foot heading into another tricky away assignment against Iraq next month.

After fielding a strong starting line-up against Lebanon, Osieck is again expected to field an attack-minded team again as the visitors look to take the game to Jordan.

Brett Holman and Mile Jedinak could be restored to the starting line-up while he must decide whether to keep faith with a youthful forward line of Kruse and Nikita Rukavytsya after they impressed last week.

Veterans Lucas Neill and Sasa Ognenovski look set to continue in the heart of defence and the Socceroos will be banking on the latter's inside knowledge of football in the Middle East to hold them in good stead again.

In Ognenovski's six internationals in the region, Australia has conceded just one goal, recording four wins and two draws in the process.

The 33-year-old recently joined Qatari club Umm-Salal and said he'd been told to expect a strong Jordan team that posed a particular threat up front.