Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has a thumb strain and is in doubt for Monday's World Cup farewell match against New Zealand.

Schwarzer did not train with the Socceroos at Melbourne's Olympic Park on Friday night after injuring the thumb in training the previous night.

The injury is not considered any threat to the World Cup campaign in South Africa next month.

Neither is he necessarily ruled out of Monday's MCG showdown with fellow World Cup finalists New Zealand.

But if there is the slightest doubt, manager Pim Verbeek is unlikely to risk Schwarzer with Australia's opening match against Germany just a few weeks away.

That could present a huge opening for one of Australia's three back-up goalies, none of whom has much experience at international level.

Verbeek could turn to either:

- Brad Jones, 28, capped only once, who was Schwarzer's understudy at Middlesbrough before the big-time keeper moved to Fulham;

- Uncapped Adam Federici, 25, who plays English championship football with Reading;

- or Adelaide United's Eugene Galekovic, 28, who has been capped four times.

Schwarzer, 37, has been in outstanding form both for the Socceroos and for Fulham, and is considered a cornerstone of any Australian success at the World Cup.

But if he is ruled out of Monday's farewell friendly, it will present a golden chance for one of his back-ups.

Verbeek will take three keepers to the World Cup.

He will cut his 31-man squad back to 27 next Tuesday and must axe four further positions before submitting his final squad to world body FIFA on June 1.

That's the day Australia plays the first of two warm-ups in South Africa, against Denmark and the US, ahead of the Group D opener against Germany in Durban on June 13.

"It's not about being a good or a bad player," says Verbeek.

"It's about the balance - how many midfielders, strikers, defenders do you take, what is each player's best position, how versatile they are."

The Dutchman has already decided on the three goalkeepers he will take to South Africa, plus 17 of the 20 outfield players.

In other words, the remaining 10 outfielders in camp in Melbourne are vying for three spots.

Fringe players like Mile Jedinak are bursting to stake their claims, even for a back-up berth.

Jedinak, who is in a tussle with Carl Valeri to play understudy to Vince Grella in the main defensive midfield role, tries to focus on himself and forget about the competition.

"I think everyone just goes about their business training hard and giving themselves every opportunity," he said.

"Carl is a great player who has done exceptionally when he has come in.

"I try to worry about my own business.

"The New Zealand game is a good opportunity for everyone to press their claim and try to impress the coach if his mind is not made up, which I'm sure it's not."

Asked if he had any inkling about the starting line-up, Jedinak said: "If you know anything could you tell me because I've got no idea."

Verbeek won't be risking Harry Kewell and must decide whether to give a hit-out to other players who have had injury problems, including Grella and Mark Bresciano.

He must also decide on who to try up front, big man Josh Kennedy or Scott McDonald, or perhaps both at different times.

New Zealand striker Rory Fallon has injected a lot of feeling into the game by stressing the Kiwis won't be holding anything back and there could be injuries as a result.

Jedinak agreed with Fallon one point.

"There is no such thing as a friendly game, I believe," he said.

"We will be taking the game seriously."

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