After cruising to an easy 4-0 win over India in game one on Monday, Osieck - in his seventh game in charge of Australia - will find out if his side has what it takes to mix it with the heavyweights of Asian football.

The German insists he has faith in the squad at his disposal, and is looking forward to the challenge of mixing it with one of the fancied nations in Asia's premier soccer tournament.

"I'm absolutely confident that we have a good team," Osieck said. "When I look at all the guys how they did their job for the team, that is pretty satisfactory to me.

"And I hope we can make it happen again in the Korea game."

Despite being ranked 14 places behind the world number 26 Australian team, South Korea have won the last three clashes between the two sides, and reached the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup where they were beaten by Uruguay.

"They are a good team. They have some good individuals, they have a good structure, and whenever you win you gain confidence from that," Osieck said.

South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae said he has enough players at his disposal to cover for suspended defender Kwak Tae-hwi, who was sent off in their 2-1 over Bahrain.

"We have three players who can cover the central defensive position, Hwang Jae-won, Cho Yong-hyug and Hong Jeong-ho," Cho said.

"Any of them can cover the position without any problems."

The winner of Friday's game will be in pole position in Group C with one match to play, and Cho expects Australia to come out firing at the Al Gharafa Stadium.

"It is the most important game of the group and it depends which team controls the game as to who will get the result," he said.

"We will prepare for set-pieces, we are shorter than the Australian guys but it is important to get the right timing and position when defending.

"I believe they are well organised in defence, when they attack they switch the play well and they have good players who can deliver dangerous crosses but we're prepared and I believe the players will do a very good job."