The Socceroos will be off to Russia should they knock off the Blue Samurai in Saitama tomorrow night after the Saudis’ shock 2-1 loss to UAE last night.

Australia had sat third and level on points with the Saudis in second. However, if the Socceroos win, it would see them secure first place on 19 points with Japan on 17 and Saudi Arabia on 16.

The Socceroos still have to play Thailand in Melbourne next Tuesday night and are heavy favourites to win despite drawing 2-2 in the reverse fixture last year.

The pressure is on Japan as they play Saudi Arabia next week but the Socceroos boss laughed off any idea they had an advantage over the Blue Samurai.

“Our destiny is in our hand, that’s the way we wanted it to be from the start. A win tomorrow night means we qualify,” Postecoglou said.

“We’re looking forward to tomorrow night regardless. Nothing really changes, I watched the game and it’s hard to win in UAE.

“We do know there’s quality with all teams and if you’re not on your game you could lose. I guess the pressure got onto Saudi Arabia a little bit.”

Postecoglou is predicting a close game after the last encounter finished 1-1 in Melbourne last year.

And there has been three 1-1 results since 2012.

Australia have not beaten Japan since the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers in 2009 where the Roos prevailed 2-1 at the MCG.

“We have a great deal of respect for their team and players, they have respect for us,” he said.

“It’s always a close contest, I don’t think it’ll be different tomorrow night.

“I expect it to be very tight with so much at stake, from our perspective we’ll just go into the game like we have every other World Cup Qualifier so far and that’s trying to win.”

Mark Milligan is likely to be named captain for tomorrow night’s game in the absence of Mile Jedinak but is unsure whether he will start.

There is also conjecture surrounding the Blue Samurai with speculation coach Vahid Halilhodzic will be sacked should Australia win.

The Victory utility spent two years in Japan with JEF United Chiba and he said there was always pressure on their national team regardless.

“From my time here and knowing there’s always been high expectations on the Japanese national team, so I don’t think that would be any different now,” Milligan said.

“They’ve been a very strong football nation in Asia for a long time now, I don’t think that’s changed recently so they’re always expected to do well and tomorrow will be no different.”