Socceroos superstar Harry Kewell is optimistic he can overcome a painful groin injury and play in Saturday's Confederations Cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands.

Kewell, who has made just eight appearances for Australia in the past five years, has been plagued by the injury for the past two months but managed to play the full 90 minutes of Liverpool's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea at the weekend.

Australian team medicos began working on his groin shortly after he arrived in Brisbane on Tuesday morning.

"It's very sore but I'm getting some good treatment on it so hopefully I'll be right," Kewell said.

His inclusion in the squad is a massive psychological boost to the Socceroos after Frank Farina's squad was decimated by the loss of Mark Viduka, Marco Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Scott Chipperfield, Danny Tiatto and skipper Craig Moore to injury.

Schwarzer is the likely new captain.

Kewell, who shot to fame with Leeds United, took the opportunity on Tuesday to take a swipe at critics who had questioned his commitment to the national side.

"I said I was going to come from day one - obviously there are a lot of people who don't believe a word I say now but I said I was going to come and I'm here," Kewell said.

"Everyone's got their own opinion about me and whatever they want to say let them say it."

Kewell saw the qualifiers as a giant stepping stone to the 2006 World Cup finals which, like the Confederations Cup, will be staged in Germany.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP