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Kewell was withdrawn shortly after half-time in Australia's 1-0 defeat to Oman in Muscat on Friday and has left the squad to return home for treatment with new club side, Melbourne Victory.

The former Liverpool and Galatasaray winger cut a dejected figure when he was taken off, prompting talk of a rift with Osieck but the German is adamant that is not the case, nor his primary concern.

''He's got a muscle strain, so in consultation with the medical group we decided to give him the opportunity to go home to get individual treatment, that's the background,'' Osieck said.

''I'm not a doctor, but according to our medical people it was serious enough to not make him available for this game."

When asked about Kewell's long-term future, Osieck added to the Sydney Morning Herald: "We are focusing on our game on Tuesday, I'm not talking about his career.

"Harry is still a good player. He is still one of the top players in Australia, so that is a question at the wrong moment ... he definitely figures in my plans.''

Australia had to come from behind to edge the Thais in Brisbane in September and Osieck accepts it will be a tough Group D clash in Bangkok.

''They gave us a tough time in our home game, so we have to make some adjustments to the way we are playing,'' Osieck said.

''But this is not a situation to go for an experiment, we still need points. So we go for the points, it's a fact.''

A draw for the Socceroos will see them advance to the final stage of Asian qualification starting in June next year.

The same scenario confronts Iraq, who travel to Jordan hoping to emerge from Group A.

Jordan's home defeat of Singapore on Friday confirmed their progression, joining Japan and Uzbekistan in making it through to the fourth round in quick time.

South Korea and Qatar can join them with wins tomorrow.

Korea go to Lebanon in Group B with coach Cho Kwang-rae considering dropping striker Ji Dong-won.

The Sunderland man was hauled off at half-time against the United Arab Emirates on Friday, late goals from Lee Keun-Ho and Park Chu-Young handing the visitors a 2-0 win.

"Ji's condition was really bad," said Cho.

"He was not good in training so I considered not to play him and he was worse in the match than I thought so I had to replace him at half-time. His balance is off and his shooting timing is slow. I think he's physically really poor now.

"I don't know if he can be better until we play against Lebanon."

Qatar host Middle Eastern neighbours Bahrain looking to build on Friday's 4-0 thrashing of Indonesia.


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