Australia and Brazil face each other in the fourth match of Group F at the Allianz Arena, Munich, with both teams looking to consolidate their winning starts to the tournament. Australia beat Japan 3-1 with three goals in the last ten minutes. In a below-par performance Brazil defeated Croatia 1-0.

Australia coach Guus Hiddink has described the game against Brazil as Australia's "day of truth". Appreciating the task facing them he also said: "We are an underdog with capital letters. Everyone expects a big victory for the Brazilian team.”

Hiddink has indicated that he may leave out four players who received yellow cards in the opening game so that they will be available for the final match against Croatia. However, Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, one of the four facing being dropped expressed his desperation to make the starting eleven.

"I'd take the chance to start against Brazil with both hands. The Japan game was all about getting through, but I got through and I'm a fit lad,” he said. "We're not looking towards the last match against Croatia. The biggest thing is to give everything against Brazil and if I'm selected, I'll keep on running."

Striker Jason Culina insists the Socceroos are not scared of Brazil and they will not be overawed at the prospect of facing the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka, Adriano and Ronaldo.

"There is no aura about Brazil. A lot of our squad have played against some of the biggest names in the world already,” said Culina. “We are not going to be star-struck and we cannot afford to give them too much respect because we will be on the back foot all the time. It is possible if we get into their faces often enough, their heads might go down. The teams who like to play pretty football tend to get frustrated by our tactics the most."

Socceroos captain Mark Viduka even expressed confidence that the team can pull off the shock of the tournament so far: "The game against Croatia showed that they are vulnerable in places. I thought Croatia should have got something out of that game. I thought they were the better team,” he said. "There're not superheroes or anything like that. They're people like us."

Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton echoed his skipper’s comments, saying: "We're excited, I think, more than anything. I don't think people expect us to go there and win. Although we believe in our ability and believe we can get a result."

Emerton could be asked to play as a right wing-back, which could mean facing Ronaldinho.

"It's an exciting prospect," he added. "And a scary one as well."

Liverpool star Harry Kewell was keeping ‘kewell’ during preparation: "I think that's the Australian way. Take it easy. There's no point wasting energy. Obviously there is a little bit of respect because they are world champions, but you just go out there and you play to what you're capable of playing," he said. "You're not going to go into a game thinking you're going to lose. You're going to go in thinking you're going to win it, and that's how we are going to start."

Australia beat Brazil 1-0 in their last encounter, for third-place at the 2001 Confederations Cup in Japan, a result that cost Selecao coach Emerson Leao his job.

If Hiddink decides not to risk his quartet of booked players that could mean no start for Cahill, John Aloisi, Craig Moore and Vince Grella. In the event it is probably more likely he will compromise, with Aloisi and Grella dropping to the bench and Cahill and Moore starting.

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has expressed concern about the physical strengths of Australia, but is confident the Selecao’s passing and movement will persevere: "Australia are a very physical team but we are not going to fight with them. Our business is to play football, put the ball on the ground and impose our style and technique,” he said. "It's a decisive match because whoever wins will almost certainly qualify."

Despite his poor performance against Croatia, and the resultant deluge of criticism, Ronaldo is expected to retain his place, and maintains the confidence of his team-mates. Barcelona star Ronaldinho summed up the opinions of the squad when he said: "I am not worried about Ronaldo at all. He still has so much quality and all the players are very confident in him. In this squad, all the players help each other. Once the game starts, mentally we are fine and forget everything else that goes on.” Ominously, he concluded: "I am sure Ronaldo will help us to win the World Cup."

Brazil (probable): Dida, Cafu, Lucio, Juan, Roberto Carlos, Emerson, Ze Roberto, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Adriano.

Australia (probable): Schwarzer, Emerton, Neill, Popovic, Chipperfield, Skoko, Culina, Moore, Cahill, Kewell, Viduka.

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)