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Australia host Japan at the Stadium Australia in Sydney on Thursday for a key clash in the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifiers.
The Socceroos are third in Group B with 15 points, and as things stand, they are heading to the fourth round. A direct qualification is still possible if they beat Japan, but the Samurai Blue aren't going to make things easier for them.
The 2011 Asian champions are three points clear of Australia in second place. A victory on Thursday would guarantee their place at the Qatar showpiece later this year.
Australia vs Japan Head-To-Head
There have been 25 clashes between the two teams, with Japan winning 11 times and losing on six occasions. They haven't lost to the Socceroos since June 2009.
The Samurai Blue have won four of their last five clashes with Australia, including a 2-1 victory on home soil in the October reverse.
Australia Form Guide (all competitions): D-W-D-D-L.
Japan Form Guide (all competitions): W-W-W-W-W.
Australia vs Japan Team News
Australia
The Socceroos have called up 27 players for this month's double-header against Japan and Saudi Arabia, including five uncapped players.
Olyroos graduates Nathaniel Atkinson and Nicholas D'Agostino, who've been in scintillating form for Melbourne Victory lately, have earned their first-ever call-ups.
Perth Glory star Bruno Fornaroli has also been included after switching allegiance from Uruguay to Australia. Melbourne striker Jamie Maclaren has withdrawn from the Japan fixture due to his wedding, while Mathew Ryan and Danny Vukovic will join the squad today.
Injured: Tom Rogic, Riley McGree.
Doubtful: Mathew Leckie.
Suspended: None.
Unavailable: Jamie MaClaren, Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Matthew Spiranovic, Ryan McGowan.
Japan
The Blue Samurai have announced a 26-man squad, which includes Liverpool's Takumi Minamino and experienced defender Yuto Nagatomo.
Vissel Kobe star Yuya Osako is sidelined with an injury, whereas Hiroki Sakai withdrew with an issue too. The latter has been replaced by Nagoya Grampus defender Shinnosuke Nakatani. Celtic-based Daizen Maeda is unavailable.
Injured: Yuya Osako, Hiroki Sakai, Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Daizen Maeda (fitness issues).
Australia vs Japan Predicted XIs
Australia (4-2-3-1): Mathew Ryan; Fran Karacic, Trent Sainsbury, Milos Degenek, Aziz Behich; James Jeggo, Connor Metcalfe; Martin Boyle, Ajdin Hrustic, Craig Goodwin; Bruno Fornaroli.
Japan (4-3-3): Shuichi Gonda; Sho Sasaki, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Yuto Nagatomo; Hidemasa Morita, Wataru Endo, Ao Tanaka; Junya Ito, Takuma Asano, Takumi Minamino.
Australia vs Japan Prediction
Australia are fighting for their lives here, as a defeat would all but dump them into the fourth round, ending their hopes of securing direct qualification.
Meanwhile, Japan, who're unbeaten against the Socceroos for over a decade, are coming into this game in excellent form. They will fancy their chances of victory to confirm their place in Qatar, having qualified for the last six editions of the World Cup.
Prediction: Australia 1-2 Japan.
