Graham Arnold revealed the Socceroos' Asian Cup squad remained far from settled after naming just seven World Cup stars to take on Uruguay next month.

Mark Viduka, Vince Grella, Scott Chipperfield and Mark Schwarzer headlined the lengthy list of absentees rested from Australia's final game before coach Arnold names his 23-man squad for July's Asian Cup.

Fellow big guns Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, John Aloisi and Mark Bresciano were also unavailable because of injury concerns.

It means the June 2 re-match with Uruguay at Telstra Stadium will be more of an audition, than tune-up, for the Asian Cup - leaving the Socceroos just one match, against Singapore, to field a full-strength side before the tournament.

With Craig Moore and Josh Kennedy already confirmed withdrawals from the Cup, Arnold admitted key defender Chipperfield was also far from certain of playing.

Arnold, though, was confident the core of Australia's 2006 World Cup squad would play in south-east Asia, with "five or six" spots still up for grabs.

"I've got a squad of about 35 on paper at the moment, so it's starting to get hard to get it down to 23," Arnold said.

"I'm very hopeful and positive that the core of the squad from the World Cup will be there.

"There are a couple that will surprise with pullouts that I'm aware of already.

"Obviously Craig Moore has come out in the press already. Josh Kennedy, he hasn't kicked a ball this year, he's snapped his achilles, so those two are definitely out.

"(Chipperfield) is one that has a question mark over him for the Asian Cup ... his wife is in the final stages of pregnancy so I'll have a clearer decision on him pretty much after the Uruguay game.

"What we have at the moment is probably five to six spots that are open.

"And that's what this game against Uruguay is also about, to see which players can step up to the mark."

Defender Lucas Neill is expected to captain the side in the re-match of the 2001 and 2005 World Cup playoffs, with Arnold relying on the experience of Jason Culina, Brett Emerton and Mile Sterjovski in a game he was confident the Socceroos will win.

Also included in the 23-man squad were six A-League players and German-based 18-year-old Matthew Spiranovic, who has been the subject of a tug-of-war between Australia and Croatia.

Spiranovic was also one of five players - Daniel Allsopp, Mark Bridge, and goalkeepers Brad Jones and Adam Federici - in line to make their international debuts.

Arnold said Kewell, despite returning for Liverpool, was considered "too much of a risk" to play Uruguay.

"Harry's been through a hell of a lot this year - mentally, with injuries and rehab ... and with the travel and having to play a game, Liverpool, along with ourselves, feels it's too much of a risk for Harry."

Despite the controversy surrounding his departure from Adelaide United at the end of the A-League season, coach John Kosmina was retained as assistant coach for the Uruguay match and Asian Cup.

"He's not here because he's a good bloke, he's here because he's a good coach ... he has a great rapport with the players, he's a proud Australian and that's why he's here," Arnold said.

Australia's Asian Cup squad will be announced on June 15, with the Socceroos to go into camp in Singapore from June 21. They play Singapore on June 30, with Australia's opening Asian Cup game against Oman on July 8 in Bangkok.

Socceroos squad to play Uruguay: Daniel Allsopp, Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bridge, Nick Carle, David Carney, Simon Colosimo, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Ryan Griffiths, Brett Holman, Brad Jones, Patrick Kisnorbo, Scott McDonald, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Mile Sterjovski, Matthew Spiranovic, Shane Stefanutto, Michael Thwaite, Archie Thompson, Carl Valeri, Luke Wilkshire.

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