With the latest FIFA World rankings released overnight, we take a look at how the Caltex Socceroos are placed in Asia and in relation to potential play-off opponents in CONCACAF.
Caltex Socceroos v Syria: get tickets here
Here are the key points ahead of the Caltex Socceroos' final matches on their Road to Russia.
ASIA
Off the back of their most recent World Cup qualifiers in the Asian group stages, Australia have dropped five places to 50th in the latest rankings.
By contrast, Syria's surge to unexpectedly finish third in their Asian group has seen them jump five places to 75 in the World.
Iran remain the top-ranked Asian side at 25th, while Japan have risen four places to 40th.
The other two Asian sides to earn automatic World Cup qualification - Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia - are 51st and 53rd respectively.
CONCACAF
The winner of the home-and-away playoff between Australia and Syria will meet the fourth-placed side in the CONCACAF group for a place at Russia 2018.
The three sides who loom as most likely to finish fourth are Panama (currently third on 10 points), USA (9 points) and Honduras (9 points).
USA are the highest ranked of those three at 28th in the world, a drop of two places from August.
Panama have risen one place to 60th in the world, while Honduras are also up one place to #74.
