To see the latest training session...

Both sides held their final press conference before the crucial clash at Stadium Australia. A win for Australia would almost guarantee qualification to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

And despite a few injury worries, Verbeek joked that he was gearing up for an attacking onslaught against the Uzbekistan side that beat Qatar 4-0 at the weekend.

"I am going to play six strikers!" he said with a smile at this afternoon press conference. "The first 20 minutes will be vital."

Verbeek believes Kewell's stint with Turkish club Galatasary has delivered Australia a rejuvenated footballer ready to lead his side to a second successive World Cup.

Dubbed the 'Wizard of Oz' by Turkish fans, the 30-year-old has scored 10 goals in 25 matches.

While keeping his starting line-up close to his chest, Verbeek indicated Kewell would start and see out a match which could secure Australia's ticket to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

"Harry looks really fit (and he's) very eager to be part of the team," Verbeek said on Tuesday. "That's good. It's the best Harry Kewell I've seen since I'm here ... physically (and) mentally.

"Turkey is very good for him at the moment. If he starts (against Uzbekistan), I'm sure he can play 90 minutes."

Verbeek is not as sure over the fitness of four others players - Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Carl Valeri and Michael Beauchamp - and will wait until just before kick-off before making a final call on their participation.

On Cahill, who is battling a calf injury, Verbeek said: "Of course we'd like to have Timmy on the field because he is one of our key players.

"But from the start we knew he could be 100 percent fit or maybe not. He is one of those players you like to have on the field so let's wait for tomorrow.

"(As for Bresciano) he's one of the players I have to think about. He trained Saturday for half a session and he trained 100 percent yesterday (Monday)."

"Are they (the doubtful players) ready to play 90 minutes? That's another question. But I have 21 players in the camp and I have enough to win the game."

Uzbekistan sent out a warning that its World Cup campaign is far from dead and buried, thrashing Qatar 4-0 on Saturday to jump to third in the pool standings behind Australia and Japan.

Verbeek has claimed all along that the Uzbeks are a better side than their early results indicated.

"I am not surprised about the quality of the team or the result (against Qatar)," he said. "They are a very difficult team to play against and they showed it again on Saturday.

"That gives us an idea it definitely won't be an easy game (on Wednesday night). We have to give everything to win."

Australia, sitting in second spot behind Japan on 10 points after four games, may be the first team to book a place to the World Cup if it wins and Bahrain and Qatar draw later on Wednesday night.

That's led to concerns the Socceroos may look too far ahead and lose focus at the job at hand.

Not so, according to Verbeek.

"I don't have the idea that the players are thinking that we are there already. I don't have that impression at all," he said. "They all know we want to qualify as soon as possible and winning tomorrow brings us a big step forward.

"We never speak about what will happen if we lose. We never speak about having a draw - we always talk about how we can win the game.

"We've had a great camp and my feeling is the boys are ready."

To see the latest training session...