JURGEN MACHO (AEK Athens, 24/08/77)

The 6ft 4in stopper will be familiar to fans of Sunderland, having joined the Black Cats in 2000 before joining Chelsea in 2003. Swallowed his tongue in a collision with England striker Peter Crouch in a friendly last year.

ALEX MANNINGER (Siena, 04/06/77)

Former Arsenal man is Austria coach Josef Hickersberger's recognised first-choice goalkeeper. He spent four years as David Seaman's understudy at Arsenal and now is kept busy against the Serie A big guns while playing for Siena.

HELGE PAYER (Rapid Vienna, 09/08/79)

Payer faces a fight with Christian Gratzei for the number three spot. The Rapid Vienna man has played in the Champions League for his club, but will surely need injuries to intervene if he is to edge out Manninger and Macho.

DEFENDERS

JOHANNES ERTL (FK Austria, 13/11/82)

Central defender who began his career with Sturm Graz and signed for FK Austria in the summer of 2006, weeks after making his debut for his country in a friendly against Hungary.

GYORGY GARICS (Napoli, 08/03/84)

Hungary-born defender who was snapped up as a youngster by Rapid Vienna. Captained the Austria Under-21s before graduating to senior level. He joined Napoli in 2006, helping the team to promotion to Serie A in the 2006-07 season.

ANDREAS IBERTSBERGER (TSG Hoffenheim, 27/07/82)

Left-back who in January joined Hoffenheim from fellow German second tier club Freiburg. In October 2005 then England captain David Beckham was sent off for two bookable fouls on Ibertsberger in a World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford.

EMANUEL POGATETZ (Middlesbrough, 16/01/83)

Ended his 17-month feud with Hickersberger to return to the national squad for the friendly against Germany in February. Brave and willing defender who can play at left-back, centre-back or even on the left of midfield.

SEBASTIAN PRODL (Sturm Graz, 21/06/87)

Highly-rated centre-back who starred for his country at the Under-20 World Cup in Canada last summer. He will join German side Werder Bremen after the Euro 2008 finals.

JOACHIM STANDFEST (FK Austria, 30/05/80)

Standfest can play at right-back or in a more advanced midfield role and began his professional career with Grazer AK, joining FK Austria last year.

MARTIN STRANZL (Spartak Moscow, 16/06/80)

Right-sided central defender who is one of his country's top talents despite never having played professionally in Austria. Came through the ranks at 1860 Munich, transferred to Stuttgart in 2004 and two years later joined Spartak Moscow. A strong tackler who will be the focal point of the defence if fit.

MIDFIELDERS

RENE AUFHAUSER (Red Bull Salzburg, 21/06/76)

Made his debut in the reign of Hans Krankl back in March 2002, he began his career with Salzburg before a four-year stint at Grazer AK. Started out as a defensive midfielder but is now much more of an all-rounder, having added greater playmaking skills to his game.

CHRISTIAN FUCHS (Mattersburg, 07/04/86)

One for the future, Fuchs operates on the left of midfield or as an attacking wing-back.

ANDREAS IVANSCHITZ (Panathinaikos, 15/10/83)

Austrian football's glamour boy and the most creative player in the entire squad. Began his career with Rapid Vienna and signed for Red Bull Salzburg in 2006 before agreeing a two-year loan switch to Greece.

VELI KAVLAK (Rapid Vienna, 03/11/88)

Turkish-born player who made his Austrian top-flight debut as a 16-year-old in May 2005. Made his senior national team debut in March 2007 and after some impressive displays at the Under-20 World Cup, Rapid had to fend off interest from German club Hertha Berlin.

CHRISTOPH LEITGEB (Red Bull Salzburg, 14/04/85)

A Sturm Graz product, he joined Salzburg last year in a deal worth around £1.3million. Can also play up front.

THOMAS PRAGER (Heerenveen, 13/09/85)

The central midfielder is not a first-choice pick for Hickersberger, and he is not a regular goalscorer for his Dutch club.

YUKSEL SARIYAR (FK Austria, 01/08/79)

Austria-born player of Turkish descent, he began his career with Genclerbirligi. His versatility may make him an attractive option to Hickersberger, as he can play as a defensive anchorman, wide on the right or at full-back.

JURGEN SAUMEL (Sturm Graz, 08/09/84)

Captain of his club, Saumel operates as a defensive midfielder. He is in contract negotiations with Sturm and a good performance in the finals could enhance his bargaining position.

STRIKERS

MARIO HAAS (Sturm Graz, 16/09/74)

In his third spell with Sturm, the veteran is back in Hickersberger's thoughts having also had spells in France (Strasbourg) and Japan (JEF United Ichihara). Alongside Hiden he is set to be the only survivor from France '98.

MARTIN HARNIK (Werder Bremen, 10/06/87)

Born in Hamburg and playing in Germany too but has pledged his international future to Austria, making his debut in a friendly against the Czech Republic last August.

ERWIN HOFFER (Rapid Vienna, 14/04/87)

Hoffer sprang to prominence with some excellent performances at the Under-20 World Cup and some impressive displays with Rapid this season make him a good bet for Hickersberger's squad.

ROMAN KIENAST (Ham-Kam, 29/03/84)

Came through the ranks at Rapid before joining his Norwegian employers in 2006. He scored 26 times in his first 54 games for the club to keep him in Hickersberger's plans.

ROLAND LINZ (Braga, 09/08/81)

Now with his second club in Portugal after a previous spell with Boavista, Linz was close to joining Barcelona in his formative years before signing professional forms with FK Austria.