Verbeek coy on Moore recall

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek is still not revealing whether former skipper Craig Moore will figure in Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Brisbane.

It is believed Verbeek is leaning towards pairing Moore and Lucas Neill in the heart of defence to combat Qatar's deadly striker Sebastian Soria Quintana.

Verbeek also has to decide how to structure his midfield in the absence of Harry Kewell, Vince Grella, Carl Valeri and Mark Bresciano.

But left-sided attacker David Carney is expected to get a call-up to play in front of left back Scott Chipperfield, and giant striker Josh Kennedy is set for a recall.

The Dutchman would not reveal his starting 11 nor the final 18-man squad he will choose from his 28 players, but indicated Moore was set to get the nod in some capacity for tomorrow night's top-of-the-table Group A clash.

"We know his experience, he's a good guy in the group, and it's good to have him back," Verbeek said of Moore, who has reversed a decision earlier this year to quit international football.

"For me it's good because I prefer to have six central defenders, then I can always have a few to choose (from).

"It's not a headache. It's a luxury for me to have players like that back for selection."

New Qatar coach Bruno Metsu has put the pressure on the Socceroos, suggesting their two recent World Cup wins over his side may be a disadvantage rather than a boost.

Australia beat Qatar 3-0 in Melbourne in February and 3-1 in Doha in June in the previous stage of World Cup qualifying, and the expectation is that the Socceroos will again be too strong at Lang Park.

But since then Metsu, who masterminded Senegal's remarkable march to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, has taken over as Qatar coach from the ill Jorge Fossati.

Qatar leads Group A from Australia, though they have played two games for a win and a draw while the Socceroos have won their only match - a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Tashkent last month.

Verbeek said his side knew what to expect from Qatar, and he had taken every precaution to ensure no complacency.

"There will be no underestimating from our team. If that happens, I can only blame myself," Verbeek said.

"We know what we have to do."

The top two teams in the group qualify directly for the 2010 World Cup finals.