The reigning Asian Cup champions are one of six nations in Pot 1 for the draw for the UAE tournament, which for the first time will consist of 24 teams.

Alongside the 40th-ranked Socceroos in Pot 1 are hosts UAE (81st), Iran (36th), Japan (60th), South Korea (61st) and Saudi Arabia (70th).

Middle East nations Syria (76th), Iraq (equal 88th) and Qatar (101st) loom as danger opponents in Pot 2. China (73rd), Uzbekistan (equal 88th) and Thailand (122th) are also in Pot 2.

Australia will also be keen to avoid Middle East nations elsewhere in the draw, given the conditions they'll face in UAE.

Among the remaining Middle East nations are Lebanon (82nd), Palestine (83rd) and Oman (87th) in Pot 3 along with Bahrain (116th), Jordan (117th) and Yemen (125th).

The draw will be held at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Graham Arnold will lead the Socceroos at the 2019 Asian Cup which runs from January 5 to February 1. Matches will be played in eight venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah.

The top two teams plus the four best third-placed teams from the six groups will progress to the Round of 16.

Pot 1: UAE, Iran, Australia, Japan South Korea, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2: China PR, Syria, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Qatar, Thailand
Pot 3: Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, India, Vietnam
Pot 4: North Korea, Philippines, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Turkmenistan