The two teams have become big rivals in recent years and that is set to continue in the next phase of World Cup qualifying.

Pim Verbeek has already said Australia's fate is likely to come down to it's final home game(s) in the group with Japan the final opponents in June next year.

Nakamura told fifa.com: "We would hope to be through already before playing them away. It would be a tough game to win in Australia otherwise.

"I think we put the World Cup trauma behind us by beating them at the Asian Cup. But we know they are a big, strong team.

"Australia have several players in the English Premier League. They're physical and very dynamic the way they overlap. They play power soccer but still pass the ball very well.

"I think we're also the sort of quick team that Australia don't like to play. But obviously it is extremely important that we win our home games."

"We certainly didn't get the worst possible group," said Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who led the country to their first FIFA World Cup finals in 1998.