To see the Socceroos at possibly their final South African training session of this World Cup...

The Socceroos not only have to beat Serbia in Nelspruit on Wednesday night (South African time) to have any chance of making it to the knockout stages but also have to rely on a favourable result from the Ghana-Germany game, which will be played at the same time.

The best case scenario is for Ghana to beat Germany, in which case Australia only has to beat Serbia to then make it through to the round of 16 while if Germany wins then Australia also has to make up a total of five goals on Ghana to get ahead of the Black Stars on goal difference.

The worst case scenario is if the Ghana-Germany game is a draw, in which case Australia would then have to beat Serbia - which has conceded just one goal in its two matches so far - by seven goals to qualify - with Serbia also needing to win to be assured of its place in the last 16.

However having already come up against both Germany - which beat Australia 4-0 in the opening group game in Durban - and Ghana - which was fortunate to escape Rustenburg with a 1-1 draw against a 10-man Australian line-up - Chipperfield says he believes Germamy is capable of thrashing Ghana, which would give the Aussies a chance of catching the Black Stars on goal difference to grab second place in the group.

"If we had won against Ghana we would have had a good chance to go through but there is still hope," Chipperfield said.

"I'm sure if Germany plays well then they could beat Ghana by three or four goals as well so all is not lost yet."

A three-goal win for Germany - which has to beat Ghana to be assured of not being eliminated in the group stages of a World Cup for the first time since 1938 following its shock 1-0 loss to Serbia in its second match - would mean the Socceroos would then only have to beat Serbia by two goals to reach the second round.

But even that will be a tough ask with Harry Kewell and Craig Moore missing due to suspension and given the fact Serbia has conceded just one goal - from a penalty - in two games so far in the tournament.

Although Tim Cahill returns from suspension, the Socceroos are still short on attacking options for the Serbia game with Kewell out suspended and Chipperfield could return to the starting line-up but this time in an advanced role.

The 34-year-old was dumped from his usual left-back position in favour of David Carney for the Ghana game - after struggling against Germany - but could return on the left side of midfield with a licence to attack against Serbia given the Socceroos' desperate need to score goals.

Chipperfield, who has scored 65 goals in 244 games for his Swiss club Basel as well as 12 from 67 appearances for the Socceroos, says he is ready to go forward to help Australia score the goals they desperately need to reach the second round.

"At my club I play a more attacking role but sometimes it's difficult after you have played a long time offensively to play as a defender again," he said. 

"But we will see on Wednesday whether I am back in the team or not and in what role but I am not too sure at the moment."

Chipperfield said he was surprised to have been written off so quickly after what he described as 'just one bad game' for his country against Germany and remains convinced he can still play a major role for Australia at this World Cup.

"I think 90 percent of Australia wanted us to retire after the last game (against Germany) one bad game and all of a sudden you are finished," he said.

"But I was happy with my games against USA and Denmark (in the lead-up to the World Cup) and I know I can still play at this level."

To see the Socceroos at possibly their final South African training session of this World Cup...