To see the Socceroos training for tonight's Nigeria match...

Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat is widely tipped to take over the helm of the Socceroos but has yet to be confirmed in the post.

His current club Zenit St Petersburg just won the Russian championship and are understood to have made Advocaat a lucrative offer to stay with them.

He was expected to be in the crowd for this weekend's game against Nigeria - but even that is now in doubt.

Now time is running out for whoever takes over to get his feet under the desk before the World Cup qualifiers next year.

"We really do need to sort it out sooner rather than later because our first qualifier is in February," Socceroo 'keeper Mark Schwarzer said.

"The sooner we get a coach installed, get a bit of stability and start playing in the way he wants us to, the better it will be for everyone.

"People will probably say there's no rush because the oppposition won't be as high-quality as later on, but it showed in the Asian Cup that when we are playing it's a major coup if the opposition can cause an upset."

He added: "Someone of the calibre of Dick Advocaat would be the right person to step up and continue the march forward

"He has obviously got a fantastic pedigree. What we need to do as a nation is progress forward again from the era that Guus Hiddink left behind.

"But I won't make any assumptions or predictions until I see the person standing in front of me."

Celtic and Socceroo striker Scott McDonald said he would welcome Advocaat into the Australia staff because of his connections with Scottish football.

"Everyone thinks it's going to be Dick Advocaat," he said. "It would be nice if it was. Obviously he knows a lot about the Scottish game which helps my cause.

"I think it's important that we get someone in charge sooner rather than later to clear up the future and look forward to the World Cup.

"I guess there is a bit of uncertainty. I'm sure St Petersburg are trying really hard to keep him there. It's just a case of if we can do enough to lure him."

To see the Socceroos training for tonight's Nigeria match...