"We expect to top the group. I am not going there to do anything less than that," Arnold told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"It is going to be a great character test for us. Six weeks in a very warm climate, a different culture and totally different surroundings to what you are used to. I am very positive we'll be successful."

Arnold spoke on his return from a goodwill tour of Europe, smoothing out relationships with the domestic club managers of the Australians.

Relations with some clubs have strained in the past over the Socceroo demands on players and Arnold was keen to address the issues ahead of the Asian Cup and qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

"The biggest thing about it was opening the communication lines with the managers and keeping the players out of a dilemma," he said.

"I sat down with Rafael Benitez the day after Liverpool played Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League, and (Everton's) David Moyes also. Pretty much eight managers.

"I spoke about the Asian Cup but also about the World Cup qualifying program with 12 games and getting the players released.

"The clubs said they had quite a few requests from us as well. It wasn't all one-way traffic.

"They want to have direct dialogue with our physios, always get a report on the players, especially at the Asian Cup where we have them for six weeks."

Harry Kewell's performance in Liverpool's last league game of the season and his possible role in the Champions League final against AC Milan will also be carefully watched.

"Benitez and I came to the agreement that the next three weeks will make or break Harry's Asian Cup possibilities," he said.

"Timmy Cahill is coming off the back of a broken metatarsal. He's in Sydney and physically active again.

"It has been pretty well documented the problems we've had with Moyes, but I must say he was fantastic."