Serbia is looking to take advantage of a depleted Australian squad on Wednesday and advance to the knockout phase in the Group D finale for both teams in Nelspruit.
The Serbs, who stunned Germany 1-0 on Friday, will qualify with a victory. Ghana has four points, Serbia and Germany have three and Australia one heading into the final day of Group D action. The Germans and Ghanaians play at the same time in Johannesburg.
Australia still has faint hopes of advancing, with a win coupled by a victory from Ghana as the most likely scenario. The Socceroos, though, will play this match without suspended Harry Kewell and Craig Moore.
"They still have good players in the reserves, but these two are big players for them," Serbia striker Dejan Stankovic said "We will try to use that to our advantage."
Both teams have key players returning from suspensions, and Australia will be buoyed by the presence of star Tim Cahill. The midfielder is looking to make amends after being sent off in a 4-0 loss to Germany in the opener.
"I'm ready to go now," Cahill said. "I've had the hardest week of my life and obviously it's going to be a very hard week for Harry now."
Serbia will have defender Aleksandar Lukovic available after his one-game suspension, but six other players are carrying yellow cards and another would result in a suspension for the round of 16. Coach Radomir Antic has been hinting at changes for this decisive match.
"When we came here we wanted to give all players an opportunity to play," Antic said. "We will try to accomplish that on Wednesday. Everyone is rearing to go."
Midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic, striker Nikola Zigic and Antic's entire back four on defense all have been booked. Neven Subotic replaced Lukovic in the lineup against the Germans.
The 31-year-old Stankovic has praised the team spirit of the Serbians, who have turned in a much better campaign than a disastrous 0-3-0 showing in 2006 as Serbia & Montenegro.
"I will probably not play in a World Cup again after this, so I would really like to make this tournament memorable," he said. "We have a realistic chance of qualifying for the second round. Our goal is to beat Australia on Wednesday and qualify."
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek made four changes against Ghana and more will be necessary on Wednesday. Michael Beauchamp is expected to be given Moore's place in defense, and lone goal scorer Brett Holman will likely start.
"It's a small chance but until that chance isn't there any more, we'll give it our all," Holman said. "And, touch wood, we get a bit of luck this time."
The Serbs don't want to take anything for granted against Australia, which reached the knockout round in 2006 with a draw against Croatia in its final group match
"They are fast and they have a lot of energy," Antic said.
