Did Pim Verbeek pick enough strikers?

The first question the Socceroos coach was asked after selecting his 23-man World Cup squad will finally be answered in Australia's last group match against Serbia in Nelspruit on Wednesday (0430 Thursday AEST).

With Harry Kewell suspended, there are just two recognised strikers standing - Josh Kennedy and Nikita Rukavytsya - for a clash in which the Socceroos must score goals to stay alive in the World Cup.

Should he need more options, the Socceroos have just midfielders to pinch-hit on the frontline - Tim Cahill, Brett Holman and Richard Garcia.

Both Cahill and Holman have shown they can perform as strikers if press-ganged into it but are better suited joining the attack from midfield.

Garcia, used surprisingly as a striker as the Socceroos were routed 4-0 by Germany, is ideally a wide midfielder.

Now the dice are about to land on Verbeek's risky strategy to snub recognised strikers - most obviously Joel Griffiths and Scott McDonald - to bet on a clutch of midfielders.

But should word come from the Germany-Ghana match that Germany are leading, kick-starting the goal chase Australia need to rein in a goal difference deficit of five, Kewell's ban cuts Verbeek's genuine striking options by a third.

Socceroos midfielder Brett Emerton believes the return of Cahill - a goal-scoring metronome for his country on big occasions - does overcome Kewell's loss.

But Emerton and the Socceroos are amazed at fate's cruelty as the team is unable to get its two proven match-winners on the park at the same time in this World Cup.

"Lose one, gain one, don't we?" Emerton told AAP.

"They're both great players. It will be great to get Timmy back but it's really disappointing to lose Harry.

"But the feeling now compared to last week - the boys were all very proud of the way we performed (in the 1-1 draw against Ghana).

"We'll take those positives into the next game and get the win."

Verbeek is likely to call up Michael Beauchamp, who impressed as a substitute in friendlies against New Zealand and Denmark, to replace the suspended Craig Moore in central defence.

The 29-year-old Melbourne Heart player's height and strength could be vital in dealing with Serbia's 202cm centre-forward Nikola Zigic and the aerial threat he provides.

Serbia's 1-0 win over Germany in their last match proved their quality - also shown by topping their European qualifying group ahead of France and Romania.

In Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic, the Serbs boast one of the world's best centre-backs.

And going forward they have plenty of quality in new Liverpool signing Milan Jovanovic, with Inter Milan veteran Dejan Stankovic pulling the midfield strings.

For Australia to make the round of 16, they must beat Serbia - a nation the Socceroos have never played in senior football.

Then they need either Ghana to beat Germany by any margin, or Germany to hammer Ghana by enough to redress the goal difference equation in the Socceroos' favour.

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