The Socceroos have been drawn alongside Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon in their group for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifiers which start next month.

The draw took place in Kuala Lumpur with Australia drawing three sides ranked below it in the latest FIFA world rankings.

Despite being in the bottom pot of teams drawn for the six four-team groups, Australia is No.48 in the world, Bahrain is 52nd, Kuwait 72nd and Lebanon No.125 in the world.

Guus Hiddink's side now faces an away match against Bahrain in its opening Asian Cup qualifier on February 22.

Australia's second match - a home match against Lebanon - is scheduled for March 1.

Football Federation Australia high performance manager John Boultbee said it was an excellent draw for the Socceroos on several fronts.

Australia has managed to avoid Asian heavyweights Japan, Korea, China and Saudi Arabia.

"It's not the hardest draw we could have got but we'll have to play well to get into the top two and into the finals," Boultbee said from Kuala Lumpur.

"Getting three Middle Eastern teams is a bonus in terms of getting our European players involved.

"It's seven hours' flight from London to Bahrain, six hours to Kuwait.

"But we've still got to play them at home."

The Socceroos are unlikely to have a full strength side for the February 22 match against Bahrain.

Because it is not a FIFA sanctioned date, clubs are under no obligation to release their players for the match.

But Australia has been given the option of postponing that game until September 1 to allow it to organise a friendly against tougher opposition in March as a lead-up to the World Cup finals in June and July.

The top two teams from each of the six groups will join host nations Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in the Asian Cup finals in 2007.

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