The U-23 side is due to meet Iraq’s U-23s in Doha, Qatar tomorrow in a crucial 2008 Olympic qualifier.

The U-23 Iraq side contains eight players that were part of the side that beat the Socceroos 3-1 just over a month ago and Arnold rates them more highly than their senior counterparts.

“Iraq have had the privilege of being in camp now for three and a half weeks in pretty extreme conditions here in Qatar where it’s 48 degrees," he said.

"Kick-off time at 7pm is 39 degrees but some people might deem that to be an excuse.

“They’ve had five games and I watched them play the other night against Qatar in a friendly and I’d go as far as saying they’re probably, potentially a better side that won the Asian Cup."

He added: "They’ve got a wonderful development program where they are and they’re producing wonderful footballers."

“The worst possible result is a loss. Once again it’s going to be very, very difficult.

"We had a friendly for 70 minutes the other night against a club team here and the conditions are, for the people who were in Vietnam and Bangkok, add another ten degrees onto that.”

Arnold says he will field up to eight or nine A-League players in the starting side, as he believes the European-based U-23s will take longer to acclimatise.

His starting XI and captain will be revealed to his squad 24 hours before kick-off.

“I think that we’ve got a very talented group here," Arnold said.

"With the inclusion of the U-20 players Burns, Djite, Dave Williams, and big Matt Spiranovic, it’s added a lot to the senior part of the group in Musialik, Leijer, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Kilkenny and Ward.

"Now there’s a good mixture and a good blend and I’ve tried to highlight the players out of this group that can handle these conditions and run for 90 minutes."

He added: "As I saw at the Asian Cup, if you can’t run then tactics and everything pretty much go out the door."

Tactically, Arnold also says he will alter the U-23s' playing style to suit the conditions.

“You can’t press for 90 minutes," he said.

"We’ll be playing the Asian way, where we’re going to try and slow the game down as much as possible at times and then hit them with bursts of pace, if we can.”