The Socceroos and La Blanquirroja meet in Sochi in the 2018 World Cup next June. The match will be Australia’s third in Group C and could decide if the green and gold progress to the next round.

Peru will be playing in its first World Cup since 1982 after beating New Zealand over two legs in the playoffs.

Schmerler believes the South American side will be confident of getting the best of Australia.

“Yes, Denmark, Australia and Peru will fight for the second place,” he told FourFourTwo.

“In case there is no surprises. I think Peru can beat Australia, but Australia also can beat Peru. I think the physicality of your players, their bodies, are so much stronger than us, like the New Zealand team, like the European teams.

“Now is Peru’s time. For years and years our national team was a loser team and this year nobody has beaten us. Very strange.”

Peru did not suffer a defeat in 2017 with victories over Uruguay, Bolivia and Ecudaor, along with draws with Argentina and Colombia.

Schmerler admits his country knows little about Australian football, with the focus in Peru on the big European leagues, Argentina’s Superliga, Brazil’s Serie A and Mexico’s Liga MX.

“In Peru we don’t know anything about international football in Africa, Asia and Oceania,” he said.

“I have the same sensation that many people have here when they knew the rival for the playoff was New Zealand. They don’t know anything [about Australia] and feel it is an easy rival, but I don’t think so.

“Here people think the South American qualifiers are very strong, more than in other confederations.”

Schmerler nominated captain Pablo Guerrero, Lokomotiv Moscow forward Jefferson Farfan, Watford striker Andree Carrillo, Sao Paulo midfielder Christain Cueva, AaB midfielder Edison Flores, goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and striker Raul Ruidoaz as Peru’s key players.

“We have Pizarro in Germany, but at 39-years-old, I don’t think he will be at the World Cup,” he said.

Schmerler concedes the loss of striker Guerrero, who is set to miss the World Cup because of a one-year ban for cocaine use, is a big a blow.

“It will be very hard for us,” he said.

“We don’t have any forwards like him. He is our best player and our historic top-scorer in our national team.”