Holger Osieck's Qantas Socceroos make the trip to Jordan for the first time knowing failure to claim maximum points could hinder their progression to the Brazil World Cup finals.
Holger Osieck's Qantas Socceroos make the trip to Jordan for the first time knowing failure to claim maximum points could hinder their progression to the Brazil World Cup finals.
Australia are still searching for their first win in the final phase of World Cup qualifying after draws against Oman and Group B leaders Japan in June.
Australia have two points, five adrift of Japan with six matches left. And they have enjoyed a mixed bag of results since that courageous effort against the Japanese at Suncorp Stadium.
The Qantas Socceroos came in for severe criticism following their dismal 3-1 defeat at the hands of Scotland but bounced back with a dominant 3-0 victory in Lebanon.
The overseas contingent, headlined by the likes of Tim Cahill, Nikita Rukavytsya, Adam Sarota, James Holland and Matthew Spiranovic, returned to the Australian squad and expect them to play roles in Amman on Tuesday.
Cahill, who returned to the international scene after finding his feet at club level for the New York Red Bulls, netted the opener, while Matt McKay and Archie Thompson completed a welcome return to form for the Qantas Socceroos.
The result in Lebanon ended Australia's four-game winless streak and provided a timely morale boost. But Dynamo Moscow utility Luke Wilkshire, who set up Cahill for Australia's opening goal, is not taking anything for granted against the 87th-ranked nation.
"We know it's going to be a difficult game," Wilkshire said.
"We saw some of their performances from the Asian Cup and we know it's going to be difficult.
"We're going to be well prepared and we're going to be looking forward to it."
Despite sitting at the bottom of Group B, Jordan are only one point behind Australia, Oman and Iraq but face an uphill battle in Amman. Jordan were taught a football lesson by Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan, suffering a 6-0 drubbing before regrouping to take a point against Iraq.
It's not all doom and gloom for Jordan, who have never qualified for the World Cup finals.
The two-time Pan Arab Games champions have reached the quarter-final stages of the Asian Cup on two occasions and will pose stiff competition with Ahman Hayel and Hassan Mahmoud in the squad.
Hayel, a striker for Kuwaiti Premier League side Al-Arabi, has five goals to his name during qualifying and will be a constant threat with his pace and aerial ability.
Mahmoud, meanwhile, is another danger in the attacking third. The experienced attacking midfielder with 74 caps at international level scored six goals in the third phase of qualification.
However, Adnah Hamad's men, who have conceded seven goals in six games, will need to improve defensively if they are to grab a positive result.
Date: Wednesday September 12 AEST/Tuesday September 11 UTC Kick-off: 2.00 AEST/19.00 UTC Venue: King Abdullah International Stadium, Amman Head-to-head: First meeting at senior international level
Past five matches: Jordan: Jordan 0-0 Iran, International friendly, Amman, September 6 2012 Jordan 2-0 Uzbekistan, International friendly, Amman, August 16 2012, Jordan 0-1 Uzbekistan, International friendly, Amman, August 14 2012 Japan 6-0 Jordan, World Cup Qualifier, Saitama, June 8 2012 Jordan 1-1 Iraq, World Cup Qualifier, Amman, June 4 2012
Australia: Lebanon 0-3 Australia, International friendly, Tripoli, September 7 2012 Scotland 3-1 Australia, International friendly, Edinburgh, August 16 2012 Australia 1-1 Japan, World Cup Qualifier, Brisbane, June 12 2012 Oman 0-0 Australia, World Cup Qualifier, Muscat, June 8 2012 Denmark 2-0 Australia, International friendly, Copenhagen, June 3 2012