Both had the chance to stake their claim to be the Socceroos' main back-up man in South Africa during last night's 2-1 win over New Zealand at the MCG with Federici playing in the first half and Jones the second.

Schwarzer, the Socceroos' most experienced player and one of the best keepers in world football, is expected to recover from his sprained thumb to be in goal for the first World Cup game against Germany in Durban on June 13.

But the fact that the Fulham veteran is injured at present has made the battle for the No.2 goalkeeping spot that much more intriguing.

Unlike four years ago when former AC Milan keeper Zelkjo Kalac was undoubtedly Australia's No.2 - and was even preferred ahead of Schwarzer by former manager Guus Hiddink for the decisive group game against Croatia when his howler almost prevented the Socceroos from reaching the second round - this time around there is no clear second choice.

While Federici and Jones - who both play in England's second tier Championship competition with Reading and Middlesbrough respectively - will definitely be part of Pim Verbeek's final 23-man squad, the Socceroos boss appears yet to decide just who is ahead of whom in the pecking order.

Federici conceded a goal in his Socceroos debut on Monday night to All Whites striker Chris Killen in the first half, while Jones, in just his second appearance for Australia, kept a clean sheet in the second half, but Verbeek said he was happy with the performance of both keepers.

"I think they were both very good," he said. "For Federici it was his first game and for Jones his first game with me so they wanted to show themselves and they did well under pressure.

"I can't blame them for anything and they have also done very well in training so we have three very good goalkeepers."

However while Verbeek was pleased with the performances of Federici and Jones - who made a great save from Rory Fallon in the second half to keep the game at 1-1 which allowed the Socceroos to eventually steal the win thanks to Brett Holman's injury-time winner - Verbeek will be hoping he does not have to call on the services of either player in South Africa.

There was no doubt Australia's defence looked much shakier than usual without Schwarzer particularly under high balls as the All-Whites big front trio of Fallon, Killen and Shane Smeltz caused the Socceroos' defence all kinds of problems.

And considering that both Germany and Serbia in particular have players of equal height and strength but also far more talent than the Kiwi front three that does not appear to auger well for Australia's chances in South Africa.

However with Schwarzer expected to return from injury in time for the Socceroos' next friendly against Denmark in South Africa on June 1, Verbeek is unconcerned and instead believes the practice of dealing with the high ball against New Zealand will hold his team in good stead for the three tough group games in South Africa.

"That is not a worry because we can do something about that," he said of his team's difficulty under the high ball on Monday night.

"We know Germany has some tall players and we know Serbia has a lot of tall players but I am not so afraid (of that threat) and it was a good lesson (against New Zealand).

"It was good that we can play against a team that can play like that and I think every team in the world would struggle against three tall players like that (the New Zealand front three) when they are getting a lot of high balls."