Both sides showed plenty of enterprise but were unable to manage a breakthrough on a heavy pitch saturated by a thunderstorm two hours before the kick-off.

Singapore goalkeeper Lionel Lewis made a series of excellent saves to keep the Socceroos at bay, but the home side dominated the closing minutes and went close to snatching a late winner.

Lewis dived low to his right to keep out a free-kick by midfielder Mile Jedinak in the ninth minute and palmed away a fiercely-struck drive by James Troisi from the edge of the box after 28 minutes.

But he was also grateful to his woodwork as Mark Bridge hooked a volley against the crossbar from eight yards out.

At the other end, Singapore skipper Indra Sahdan had a dipping header caught under the crossbar by goalkeeper Ante Covic, while Shi Jiayi and Aleksandar Duric were both presented with openings from tight angles which they put into the Australian side netting.

Substitute Bruce Djite nearly forced an opening on the hour, muscling his way into the Singapore area past the challenges of two defenders before unleashing a shot that Lewis blocked with his legs.

And Lewis came to Singapore's rescue again in the 70th minute, diving to his left to turn aside Nikolai Topor-Stanley's rising effort from 30 metres.

Substitute Juma'at Jantan had Singapore's best chance of the second half when he outpaced the Australian defence down the left channel with eight minutes remaining, but the winger's shot did little to trouble goalkeeper Covic.

And the home side continued to turn up the pressure in the closing minutes against a tiring Socceroos' outfit but was unable to find a way to break the stalemate.

Singapore host Lebanon in a World Cup qualifier at the same venue on Wednesday while Australia travel to Kunming to face China.

A win for the Socceroos against China will almost certainly see Australia progress to the next stage of qualification after the Aussies accounted for Qatar 3-0 at Melbourne's Telstra Dome last month.

Friendly International

Singapore 0
Australia 0