'Win and we're through': Ange

Ange Postecoglou insists the Caltex Socceroos will take an ‘aggressive’ approach into Tuesday night’s make-or-break World Cup qualifier against Syria.

Following a 1-1 draw in Thursday’s first leg in Malaysia, a win or a scoreless draw will be enough for Australia to progress to an intercontinental play-off for a spot at next year’s World Cup.

But despite the delicately poised tie, Postecoglou says Australia will continue to play their style of football but with a clear and simple focus – win.

“For us the objective is clear. If we win, we’re through,” Postecoglou said at the official pre-match press conference.

“If you start thinking about scorelines and anything other than just trying to beat the opposition than I think you get into some tricky situations.

“What we know is if we win tomorrow night then we’re through to the next round.

“Our objective is to play our football. We want to be aggressive, we want to be attacking, we want to take it to the opposition and test them. And that’s what we’ll do.”

After encountering energy-sapping conditions in Melaka, Postecoglou admitted there would likely to be changes in personnel for the second leg in Sydney.

Tim Cahill is one who was rested for the first leg and looms as a likely starter, while the likes of Tom Rogic and Massimo Luongo are also set to have more involvement.

“Everyone from the game has backed up really well. From our perspective we couldn’t be in better shape considering the travel and the physical toll of the game.

“It’s an option for us [Cahill to start]. We obviously kept quite a few back the other night. It’s the way we’ve chartered our course through thee qualifying process that we’ve used different formations and different players at different times.

“Tim’s one of those who obviously didn’t play the other night. He’s raring to go. There’s a few there we can look at in terms of selection.

“We’ll do that after training today.”

After a physical encounter in the first leg in Malaysia against a dogged Syrian outfit, Postecoglou says his side are expecting another bruising encounter on Tuesday night.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game. You look at their World Cup qualifying group and every game they made it tough for their opposition,” Postecoglou said.  

“Regardless of who they put out there, we know it’s going to be a tough game.”