Striker Tim Cahill says neither team will want to give an inch when the Socceroos renew hostilities with fellow Asian powerhouses Japan on Tuesday night (9.20pm AEDT).
The Socceroos and Blue Samauri will face off in an international friendly at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka in preparation for Australia's hosting of the 16th edition of the AFC Asian Cup.
Javier Aguirre's Japan will go into the tournement as reigning champions after edging Australia 1-0 at the end of extra-time four years ago.
With that in mind, the Socceroos all-time leading goal scorer Tim Cahill believes Tuesday's friendly fixture could see both teams keep their cards close to their chest with an eye on January's continental Cup.
"It's going to be a tactical battle," said Cahill.
"Are Japan going to show all their cards? Are we going to show all our cards? Are they going to do the same set plays as they will in the tournament? I think not.
"The fact is we want to win games, but I really think it's going to be a tricky game because they're the favourites, the powers of Asia.
"And they've obviously earned the right with winning the last Asian Cup and the way they're performing and they’ve got great players.
"For us we've got to go there and be confident in what we’ve got, the way we play and obviously the players we've got and really try and iron out what we can do as a team."
Japan go into Tuesday's match on the back of a 6-0 rout of Honduras on Friday, with Takashi Inui on target for the Asian giants in the absence of coach Aguirre, who returned to Mexico to attend a ceremony.
Aguirre is back in camp for the clash in Osaka and the Mexican will oversee first-team responsibilities against the Socceroos.
Meanwhile Ange Postecoglo will be desperate to see results improve under his watch as he continues to rebuild the national team.
The Socceroos will be looking to bounce back from a couple of recent poor results in the Gulf, where they drew 0-0 with the United Arab Emirates and lost to Qatar 1-0 in October.
The Socceroos play Japan on Tuesday 18th November in what will be their last hitout before Australia hosts the Asian Cup in January.
The match will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS 505 (FOX SPORTS 4HD & 4) from 9.00pm (AEDT).