Neill is in the running for the Asian Football Confederation's highest honour alongside Iran's Ali Karimi and Mohsen Bengar, as well as Zheng Zhi of China and Korea Republic's Lee Keun-ho.

The AFC Player of the Year award remains a controversial prize with only players attending the presentation able to win.This year's awards will be held in Kuala Lumpur on November 29.

If he triumphs, Neill - who plays for Al Wasl in the United Arab Emirates - will become Australia's second-ever winner after fellow Socceroos defender Sasa Ognenovski picked up the gong in 2010.

Schwarzer is one of three nominations for what is, arguably, the more prestigious AFC International Player of the Year.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper, who plies his trade with Fulham in the English Premier League, will be up against Japanese pair Shinji Kagawa and Yuto Nagatomo, who play for Manchester United and Inter Milan respectively.