Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will lead Australia against Kuwait, while China have drafted in Anderlecht forward Dong Fangzhuo and Sheffield United midfielder Li Tie to ensure they beat Singapore.

While Australia are already through to the finals co-hosted by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam next year they want to maintain their momentum and have named a dangerous squad for their trip to the Far East.

Coach Graham Arnold has included nine of the players who represented Australia at the World Cup. The whole squad is European-based, although PSV Eindhoven midfielder Jason Culina was ruled out Monday with a torn hamstring.

"We decided to mix in some of the World Cup squad members with some players who just missed out and some of the promising young players that are currently at clubs in Europe," said Arnold.

"We are building some depth here and we want to have a big list of players that we can call on. The A-League players got their chance against Kuwait in Sydney and now players from Europe will have their chance in Kuwait."

Australia is the highest ranked Asian side in the world at 33 after their run into the second round at the World Cup in Germany.

With three qualifying matches left, China need to beat Singapore in the city-state to avoid a tricky last two games. China are level with Iraq on six points in Group E, with Singapore and Palestine on three.

China, who were beaten by Japan in the 2004 final, only scrapped a last minute 1-0 win over Singapore in Tianjin three weeks ago and know they must do better on Wednesday.

Coach Zhu Guanghu has called up three overseas players -- Shao Jiayi from Energie Cottbusin, the newly-promoted Bundesliga club, as well as Dong and Li.

China also have playmaker Zheng Zhi back in action after a six-month suspension for pushing an opponent in an Asian Champions League match last year.

"Our opponents have an attacking lust and we will need to find more chances in their backyard," Zheng said.

South Korea need to pick themselves up to play Taiwan after throwing away victory against fellow World Cup team Iran in front of 63,000 fans over the weekend.

A last-minute equaliser from striker Vahid Hashemian earned the Iranians a 1-1 draw, with the Bundesliga-based star silencing the home fans with the game's last kick after a calamitous mix-up in the Korean defence.

But new Korean coach Pim Verbeek will take comfort from the fact that his team still lead Group B with seven points from three games. Iran are second with five points. Syria and Taiwan are third and fourth respectively.

Iran travel to Syria for their match.

Defending champions Japan take on Yemen looking to get their campaign back on track after losing to fellow Asian powerhouse Saudi Arabia 1-0 over the weekend.

The Saudi victory moved them to the top of Group A with a 100 percent record and they will make sure of their place in next year's finals if they beat struggling India on Wednesday.

Other fixtures see Qatar play Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates at home to Jordan. Victories for Qatar and UAE will see them through to the finals.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong play Uzbekistan, Oman challenge Pakistan and Iraq take on Palestine.