The Socceroos have ducked for cover ahead of their do-or-die World Cup match on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), training in private to work out how best to cover for missing mainstays Harry Kewell and Craig Moore.

While replacing Kewell in the match against Serbia remains a conundrum for Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek, indications are he will gamble on Melbourne Heart centre-back Michael Beauchamp to step in for suspended veteran Moore.

Beauchamp, who two months ago was rated no chance to even make the World Cup squad and has just signed with the A-League newcomers, is now in line for the biggest match of his career.

Verbeek has three options to replace Moore, with Beauchamp, the versatile Mark Milligan, or holding midfielder Mile Jedinak the possibilities.

But Beauchamp, who impressed as a substitute in friendlies against New Zealand and Denmark, appears to have the upper hand for the match in Nelspruit.

Verbeek was giving little away when asked his thoughts on how to replace Moore, except that Beauchamp figured in his thinking.

"We have enough possibilities (to replace Moore). Michael Beauchamp can play in that position - I have Mark Milligan who can play in that position," Verbeek said.

"I have a few days to think about that. We will miss Craig but we have players who can do a job also."

If Australia beat Serbia and Ghana beat Germany, the Socceroos qualify for the second stage.

But an Australian victory and a Germany win won't be enough unless the Germans and/or Australia slam in plenty of goals to balance the goal difference equation in the Socceroos' favour.

The Socceroos held their closed training session in Roodepoort on Monday.

They fly to Nelspruit - a city in South Africa's east on the edge of the famed Kruger National Park - on Tuesday.

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