Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak is expecting an almighty clash with Iraq as Australia begin the third phase of World Cup qualification on Thursday night.
The midfielder signed with Aston Villa a fortnight ago with international duties adding to the 32-year-old's busy schedule.
Australia will complete their final training session on Wednesday before taking on Iraq at nib Stadium.
“I’m ready to go, whenever we come to camp everyone here with all the stuff and the tremendous work they’ve put in, they’re up to date with how schedules are going and training loads,” Jedinak said.
“From a playing point of view, you have everyone’s full trust coming in that you’ll be right to go tomorrow, it’s been no different and in fact it’s gone up another level.
“That’s the way it’s going to be going forward if we’re going to achieve our targets and goals. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing, as far as we go from my point of view, we’re ready and really looking forward to it.”
Australia take some ascendency into the match having managed a 1-0 win against Iraq when the teams last met in June 2013.
And it was a goal from retired Socceroo Josh Kennedy which guaranteed the Socceroos progression to the 2014 World Cup.
However, both teams have vastly changed in the past three years with Iraq narrowly missing out on progressing past the group stage in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Jedinak said he been watching Iraq’s progress with interest.
“They’re a team we’ve met in the past a number of times and always provided a good test. They’ve gone through a little bit of a transition with some of their players and influential figures of the generation have retired,” he said.
“In saying that they had a strong showing at the Olympics and we’ve analysed them as we have done with most oppositions. We’ll put that stuff into practice today and hopefully by tomorrow we can execute that and we come away with not only an important three points, but a good performance.
“Everyone plays for their national team with a lot of passion as they do and so do we. I just think for whatever reason they’ve lifted another gear against us. It hasn’t taken us by surprise of late, maybe initially it did and you have to be mindful of that and respect how they approach things.”
Related Articles

Socceroos midfielder embraces move to England

Cardiff City snap up sought-after Socceroos starlet
