The Socceroos' stuttering 3-0 win over Singapore on Saturday night highlighted both Australia's biggest strength and biggest weakness ahead of its upcoming debut at the Asian Cup.
Australia might be going into its first Asian Cup as tournament favourites, on the back of being the only country from the region to qualify for the knockout stages of last year's World Cup (when the Socceroos were representing Oceania), but plenty of obstacles stand in the way before the dream of the Socceroos lifting their first major trophy can be realised.
The Socceroos actually go into the tournament as only the third highest ranked team in the region behind old rivals Japan and Iran and if the tournament goes to rankings then the Aussies will need to overcome Iran in the semi-finals and Japan in the final.
And Japan will be itching for revenge on the Socceroos, following their 3-1 loss to the Aussies at last year's World Cup when the Socceroos scored three late goals - a result which eventually saw Australia progress to the knockout stages while Japan was eliminated.
Besides Japan and Iran, the Socceroos' two main obstacles will be overcoming Asia's stifling heat and humidity at this time of the year and coping with an unsettled defence - which is definitely the team's weak link compared to the midfield and attack.
On Saturday night the Australians could easily have been two or three goals down to a modest Singapore side ranked 131 in the world and which did not even qualify for the Asian Cup finals.
The only things that saved the Socceroos from an embarrassing defeat were a combination of poor finishing and the safe hands of ever reliable keeper Mark Schwarzer.
The lack of an established partner at the centre of defence for West Ham's Lucas Neill - one of the stars of last year's World Cup - is the biggest concern with neither Patrick Kisnorbo nor Michael Beauchamp yet to convince they are up to international level.
The absence of veteran pair Craig Moore and Scott Chipperfield - two of the stars of last year's World Cup who ruled themselves unavailable for this tournament - has left an even bigger hole in the defence than first imagined with Luke Wilkshire also struggling on Saturday night as a makeshift left back.
And it's not as if the Socceroos have a lot in reserve when it comes to their defence either with the only other options being youngster Mark Milligan, who plays in the A-League with Sydney or the little-known Michael Thwaite, who plays in Poland.
The physically demanding heat and humidity also shapes as an enemy for the Socceroos' defence as it is only natural mistakes will be made in such conditions.
But as weak as Australia looks in defence, it is equally as strong in midfield and in attack.
The return to fitness of Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill gives the Socceroos the strongest attack in the competition while in Vince Grella and Jason Culina they possess holding midfielders of the highest class.
But it is the decision of skipper Mark Viduka to play in the tournament, after considering retirement from international football, which looms as Arnold's trumpcard in his bid to win the Asian Cup and secure his future as Socceroos' coach.
Viduka's two goals against Singapore on Saturday night again highlighted what was evident in that memorable World Cup opener in Kaiserslautern last June - the Asian countries will find it impossible to cope with his height and strength.
It was Japan's inability to cope with the height and strength of the Australian attack that led to their late capitulation at the World Cup and given the natural height and strength advantage of the Australians compared to their much-smaller Asian counterparts - the Socceroos should ensure they maximise this advantage.
The best way to do that would be to play the powerful John Aloisi - the man who scored not only the winning penalty against Uruguay to get Australia to the World Cup but also the clinching goal in that memorable 3-1 win over Japan - as a strike partner for Viduka where their combined height and strength will be a terrifying prospect for all rival nations at the Asian Cup.
And with Kewell and the equally skilful Mark Bresciano supplying crosses from the midfield to three world class targets - the other being the gifted Cahill who is also extremely powerful in the air - and it will take a great defensive effort to keep the Socceroos from scoring.
But ultimately it will be whether their shaky defence can hold up - particularly when the opposition gets stronger after what should be a straight-forward group phase against Oman, Iraq and Thailand - that will determine whether Australia walks away with Asia's biggest sporting prize at the very first attempt.