They hope to wear the Aussies down by playing at a high tempo to make the Socceroos work for every touch of the ball in the sweltering temperatures of Hanoi.

Midfield star Yasuhito Endo admits: “We are inferior physically. So we need to work harder and pass the ball around better. We are more used to the heat than the opponents.”

They believe Japan have learned their lessons from the late late show at the World Cup which saw Australia come from behind to thrash them 3-1.

And Celtic star and Japan legend Shunsuke Nakamura has warned his side will be targeting Australian hardman Mark Viduka on Saturday.

"It's no good to repeat the same mistake,” he says. “Marking him like hogs isn't the only way to pressure him. We will discuss how. For now, I'd rather say,'Let us not be afraid’.

But Nakamura believes Australia will try to use the same game plan as before…and this time they’re ready for them.

"They have the same key players here," he says. “We retreated no matter what and we were in danger very near the goal. We should have pushed up.”

Endo adds: “They basically attacked with Viduka keeping the ball and others coming up in the group matches. This image has not greatly changed since last year.”