23/07/2008 4:30:08 PM
Graham Arnold's Olyroos will tackle Japan with one eye on the opposition and the other on the Olympics on Thursday night (AEST) in Kobe.
The Beijing-bound side will inject overage duo Archie Thompson and Jade North for the pre-Games clash as preparations shift up a gear a fortnight from the Olympics.
Arnold, who has 21 fit men to choose from, said the clash was one of the final chances for players to press their case for a position in his starting XI.
"I am starting to try and settle on combinations now," Arnold explained.
"We are starting to settle on our starting line-up but at the same time we need to make sure we've got 18 players prepared and ready for the first game."
"At this stage there are still a few places up for grabs."
Australia's Asian tour began with a 1-0 loss to China on Sunday night in Changchun.
While wanting to win in front of a packed house on Thursday night, Arnold said results weren't the be all and end all.
"Match fitness is going well. I have trained them harder than what I normally would before games. I'll continue to do that until we get into Beijing," Arnold explained.
"Normally a training session before a game goes for 45 minutes. I have been training them for about an hour and a half, mainly to keep them out in the heat and to get them physically ready for the Games."
"Our main focus is on Serbia on August 7."
The third and final 'senior' member of the squad, David Carney, is expected to join his team-mates after Thursday night's match.
"Sheffield United has been great and I have been talking with their manager Kevin Blackwell often," Arnold said.
"David has done three weeks of pre-season with Sheffield United. He has played four or five games so match fitness won't be a problem."
"They are releasing him to come across on Friday so he'll have two weeks to acclimatise and prepare for the heat."