Australia manager Pim Verbeek insists his side has a better understanding of Asian soccer since last year's Asian Cup, but is taking nothing for granted ahead of next month's crucial World Cup qualification matches.
The Socceroos joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 in search of more competitive matches than the turkey shoots that had blunted their edge in Oceania, but their first taste of action in Southeast Asia last summer proved more than they bargained for.
Australia scraped through its first-round group after losing 3-1 to Iraq, before crashing out in the quarterfinals against Japan.