Schwarzer closes in on return

The 39-year-old has endured a frustrating six-week stint on the sidelines with a neck injury but says he's ready to throw himself back into full training.

Given Australia is already guaranteed of progressing through to the next stage of World Cup qualifying, coach Holger Osieck will be reluctant to push his veteran keeper when it's not needed.

However, Schwarzer, who is approaching 100 caps for the national side, says he'll put his hand up if required.

"I've told people many, many times, if the manager is ever going to ask me if I want to play or not I'll always give the same answer. I always want to play," he told the Sin Bin program on Sydney's 95.3FM.

"I'm 100 percent available so long as I'm fit but I desperately want to be there.

"I want to play and like I said I always want to play as many games as I possibly can for Australia.

"I won't lie, you have it (100 caps) at the back of your mind but that doesn't drive me.

"What drives me is continuing to be successful for the national team, hopefully qualify for our third successive World Cup and continue to establish football on the map in Australia."

Schwarzer signed a one-year contract extension with Fulham during the week and is looking forward to helping the club turn its English Premier League fortunes around.

"I am, it was a clause in my contract ... unfortunately I fell short of exercising the clause by myself through appearances because I got injured," he said.

"But the club had the right to extend my contract and decided after getting as much information about my injury and the extent of it that they'll reassure everything's going to be fine and they'll take up the option which I'm delighted about.

"It's (fitness) going quite good, in the last two weeks I've been working particularly hard doing four sessions a day trying to get as fit as possible."