A win would move the Socceroos a huge step closer to their second successive appearance at the World Cup finals and also give Verbeek a superior record in charge of the Socceroos to Hiddink - who famously ended Australia's 32 year drought by steering Australia to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

The clash at Suncorp Stadium will be Verbeek's 12th game in charge of Australia and currently his record stands at six wins, three draws and two defeats - including two wins already over Qatar in the first phase of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

So a win on Wednesday night will give Verbeek seven wins and three draws from 12 matches in charge, outstripping Hiddink's record as Socceroos' manager which saw him win seven and draw two of his 12 matches in charge as Australia famously reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time before bowing out to eventual winners Italy.

And their records in all-important qualifying matches - as opposed to their overall records which also include friendly matches - are also similar.

Verbeek has been in charge of the Socceroos for seven World Cup qualifying matches so far for four wins, one draw and two losses while Hiddink - whose eight matches for points included the Socceroos' four games at the 2006 World Cup finals - had a record of four wins, one draw and three defeats.

But Verbeek faces another major test of his growing credentials on Wednesday night, even though he has had slightly longer to work his players in the lead-up to this game than some matches so far during this campaign.

The Socceroos will go in with a weakened side with Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella and Carl Valeri all missing through injury or suspension.

That leaves Australia light on for attacking options down the left side of midfield and with someone needing to step into the crucial defensive midfield role - which is now likely to go to the experienced Jason Culina or possibly Central Coast youngster Mile Jedinak.

The other big selection query is who will partner Lucas Neill in the centre of defence with veteran Craig Moore, whose international retirement turned out to be short-lived, favoured over recent revelation in Chris Coyne while it should be noted that it was Jade North and Michael Beauchamp that did the job for the Socceroos the last time they beat Qatar in Doha in June.

That win followed on from a 3-0 rout over Qatar in the opening match of the first phase of qualifying in Melbourne back in February.

Much has changed for Qatar since then with the biggest change being the departure of experienced former coach Jorge Fossati - who was also in charge of Uruguay when the Socceroos beat them on penalties to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Fossati has been replaced by Frenchman Bruno Metsu, who was in charge of the United Arab Emirates during last year's Asian Cup.

But for Qatar, their fortunes will still largely rest on star striker Sebastian Soria Quintana, who did not play when the Socceroos thrashed Qatar in Melbourne in February.

However, while the Socceroos insist there is no complacency in the camp ahead of Wednesday night's match despite their two earlier wins over Qatar, anything less than three points would be a major disappointment and a win here would effectively hand Australia control of Group One.

A win for the Socceroos, along with a likely Japan win in their home clash against Uzbekistan also on Wednesday night, would see the two giants of Asian football move to six points from two matches leaving Qatar on four points from three matches, Bahrain with one point from two and the Uzbeks none from three.

And with the top two from the group progressing to the 2010 World Cup finals, the Socceroos would have one foot on the plane to South Africa.