To see the Socceroos in training on Friday...

Speaking on the eve of his first match in charge of the national team on Australian soil, the charismatic German was happy to go into detail when asked if he will make good on his promise to implement a 4-4-2 formation in the coming months.

Former coach Pim Verbeek deployed a more conservative 4-5-1 system.

And despite fulfilling his brief - to qualify the Socceroos for the 2010 World Cup - the Dutchman was widely criticised for fostering dull football.

But if Osieck's words are to be believed, the next four years will be anything but boring.

"Every coach has a preference, and my preference is that when you play a lone striker he at times is really lonesome up front," Osieck said.

"And I think it's better to have a set-up where the space between the different positions is closer, so whenever you play a long ball the man up front has an opportunity to drop it, to get an opportunity (to score) or to get somebody else involved so it's more a fluent movement.

"The closer the distance between the players is on the pitch the more options you have got, and from there then you can open your game.

"You can play wide, you can include players from the back who let's say attack over the flanks, so it's more a fluent one. It's not just one striker, two strikers, three strikers.

"The basic set-up is, as I've said before on other occasions is that I would like our team to act, and to play up and to be courageous and at times, of course, to take risks up front."

While Osieck is yet to name his starting line-up, Scott McDonald and Josh Kennedy are likely to play up front for the hosts, while Tim Cahill remains a chance to play despite carrying a knee injury.

The coach confirmed he'll delay his decision on Cahill's availability for the clash until the morning of the match, while veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will wear the captain's armband in the absence of injured skipper Lucas Neill.

"As you could see during our week, Tim at the beginning he didn't take part in our training because he needed some additional treatment and right now he looks to be ok again," Osieck said.

"I think all players of the squad are ready to play and so I definitely can pick everybody from the group, but the final decision I will wait until tomorrow morning."

Meanwhile, Osieck vowed to take a firm stance against any clubs that attempt to withhold players from the upcoming Asian Cup tournament in Qatar next January.

The tournament falls within an official FIFA window meaning clubs must release their players.

"I think we should, not we would, we should," he said when asked if Football Federation Australia should force the issue if clubs try to be difficult.

"Because it's a major tournament and this tournament is protected by FIFA. It's our showcase on that level and it's a very prestigious tournament.

"The players want to be there, I talked to everybody and in particular our experienced players and they showed a great deal of commitment.

"I know from experience clubs don't like it, in particular in Britain with a very tight schedule, and they try to convince players not to go. But I think we should be very adamant and let's say stick to our right."

To see the Socceroos in training on Friday...