The Socceroos have made heavy weather of their Asian Cup qualifying campaign thus far and boss Pim Verbeek has responded by drafting in all his big guns for Saturday’s crucial clash with Oman. Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton, Lucas Neill and Mark Bresciano are among those that have flown to Muscat from Europe and all are expected to start as Australia aim to secure what would be their second win of the group stage.

Oman proved difficult to break down when the sides met in Melbourne last month, however and Verbeek will not have the option of employing regular first-choice striker Josh Kennedy in Saturday’s return clash as the Nagoya Grampus target-man has been ruled out by a back injury. Scott McDonald was widely expected to be drafted in as a replacement for Kennedy, but the Celtic man has been overlooked in favour of Alex Brosque who has been in fine form for Sydney FC.

Another A-League frontman, Perth Glory’s Mile Sterjovski has also been included in the squad despite having struggled with an ankle injury in recent weeks.

Verbeek’s opposite number Claude Le Roy, meanwhile, has the rare luxury of a full-strength squad from which to make his final selection, including overseas-based stars Ali Al Habsi of Bolton and Emad Al Hossani of Belgian side Charleroi. Midfielder Fauzi Bashir is also fit and will be looking to build on his impressive performance in Melbourne when he caused the home side all manner of problems.

Despite the strength of the squad, this is shaping up to be a tricky trip for the Socceroos for whom a win is essential if they are to get their qualifying campaign back on track. Oman retained possession superbly last time the two sides met and felt, with some justification, that they were unfortunate not to secure a share of the spoils. Throw in the fact that the quality of the surface at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex is something of an unknown quantity and that temperatures are likely to be oppressively high and it all adds up to a potential banana skin for the men in green and gold. With the in-form Cahill as their driving force, the Socceroos may just be able to get over the line, but it’s unlikely to be pretty and very unlikely to be a goal-fest.

Prediction: Oman 0-1 Australia