Kewell was named in Australia's largely predictable 31-man preliminary squad which will be trimmed to 23 on June 1.

There has been huge concern over whether Kewell would be fit for the World Cup with the 31-year hampered by a nagging groin injury which has kept him on the sidelines for large periods of the season with Turkish club side Galatasaray.

But Verbeek played down any fears of Kewell missing the tournament and said he had received assurances from Kewell and Socceroos medical staff that the striker will be ready for the opening game against Germany on June 13 in Durban.

"Everyone's talking about Harry but he will be ready, I have no doubt about that," Verbeek said today. "As far as I know we have until June 12 and that's still five weeks away.

"Five weeks is enough for a player to prepare. If a club team has five weeks to prepare for a competition then they're very happy so there's no problem.

"Harry is one of those players that can perform without any preparation. He can do something special during a game and that's what I'm counting on."

"Harry's a special class and I will pick Harry and take him into the World Cup even if he's not fit yet."

Kewell is not the only concern for Verbeek with leading players Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella and Richard Garcia among those battling niggling injuries.

Of that group Garcia is probably the most in doubt after the Hull City midfielder missed the closing weeks of the English Premier League season due to a knee injury suffered last month.

But the 28-year-old said he was happy with his rehabilitation and was adamant it wouldn't stop him from being onboard Qantas flight QF163 for Johannesburg on May 26.

"I'm pretty happy with it, it's just a matter of a few more weeks leading up to the New Zealand game," Garcia said. "It's been a tough season but with the World Cup around the corner things are looking up.

"It's a proud moment for me and it's been a lot of hard work and I'll do everything I can to be on the plane."

Verbeek said the worst part of the selection process was telling the likes of Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns, Simon Colosimo, Bruce Djite and Matthew Spiranovic they didn't make the squad.

"The hard part is the players you have to disappoint because you know them well," he said.

"Most of them were part of the qualification so a lot of those players did something special and that's why we're going to the World Cup and I have to disappoint them and tell them they're not going."

"It's easier to tell a player he's selected than not selected but that's the way it works in professional football."