Preview: Australia vs. Jordan - prediction, team news, lineups

Australia will prepare for their upcoming World Cup qualifying fixture with UAE by facing Jordan in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Jordan head into the game in Al Wakrah looking for a confidence boost ahead of their Asian Cup qualifying games later this month.

Match preview

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Despite not being the team that they once were, Australia would have still had high hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup without needing to go down the playoff route.

However, a return of just four wins from 10 games in the final group means that the Socceroos will be relieved to still be in the competition, Graham Arnold's team finishing just one point ahead of Oman.

A run of just one victory from seven outings gives Arnold plenty of cause for concern, particularly with his team having failed to score against either Japan or Saudi Arabia in their most recent games.

Nevertheless, a friendly with Jordan is theoretically the perfect preparation for games against UAE and potentially Peru as they bid to join the world's elite in Qatar.

Almost a year has passed since Australia last met Jordan, a Harry Souttar goal proving to be the difference in an early World Cup qualification game.

From Jordan's perspective, they are looking to claim a prized scalp ahead of three Asian Cup fixtures in quick succession later this month.

The Chivalrous head into this match in positive form with victories over New Zealand and India having been posted since the turn of the year.

Before that, their Arab Cup campaign had been halted by Egypt at the quarter-final stage, but head coach Adnan Hamad has guided this team to nine wins from 13 games since his appointment last year.

Team News

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The trio of Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Marco Tilio will likely start this game on the substitutes' bench after Melbourne City's A-League Grand Final with Western United at the weekend.

With James Jeggo and Bruno Fornaroli not present in the squad on this occasion, at least two changes will be made from the defeat to Saudi Arabia.

Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy are pushing for recalls in midfield, while Mitchell Duke may feature in attack.

Hamad may be comfortable with selecting the same Jordan XI from the game against India on Saturday.

However, their two goals on that occasion came from substitutes Monther Abu Amara and Sharara, putting them in contention for a starting role.

Australia possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Atkinson, Stensness, Sainsbury, Behich; Boyle, Rogic, Mooy, Mabil; Hrustic, Duke

Jordan possible starting lineup:

Abulaila; Al-Arab, Khattab, Abu Hasheesh, Haddad, Abdulrahman, Al-Rawabdeh, Al Dardour, Al-Mardi, Al-Tamari, Olwan

We say: Australia 2-0 Jordan

Arnold will want to find a balance between giving minutes to his senior players and ensuring that they are well rested for next week. Nevertheless, the Socceroos should have far too much quality for Jordan, leading us to predict a comfortable win and clean sheet.

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