Video analysts are poring over old matches of the Syrians in the hope of identifying ways to keep the Syrian side at bay and open up routes to goal.

The result of the game at 12.30am on Wednesday night will determine whether or not Australia meet Japan in the round of 16.

The opening game loss to Jordan put the Socceroos on the back foot for the rest of the group games, but the convincing win over Palestine at least settled green and gold nerves.

Another win over Syria - the highest ranked side in the group after Australia - will ensure the Socceroos don't rely on being one of the four best-placed third-ranked sides to make it into the knockout stages.

And Australian coaching staff are determined to do everything they can to help the players on the pitch by doing their homework off the pitch beforehand.

"We need to take a good look at Syria," said assistant coach Rene Meulensteen today. "What sort of system they play, what sort of style they play, what are their key players

"Where can they hurt us?"

Meulensteen – former Fulham and Brondby boss and a first team coach at Manchester United – said they would obviously also being using video analysis to spotlight Socceroos' strengths and weaknesses too.

"We want to obviously carry on looking at ourselves critically," he said. "Make sure that we take out the good parts and share that with the players, and also show us things that we can improve on."

Training was focused more on maintaining form than fitness now, he said, to prevent overloading players before the crucial final group stage game kicks off.

"When you get to this stage of the tournament, you need to be very aware and understand the physical state of the players," he said.

"It's important to look after that so we haven't trained with a very high intensity, it was more sort of a loosener to get them fresh and also to get them mentally fresh for the Syria game."

He added: "Just get them going, get the blood pumping again.

"It was just a little bit of a tactical session of things we're looking for in terms of rotation and build up play.

"It's a good for the player so we can paint a picture so they see the options and then can make the right decisions in the games when it come to it."