Photo: © 2010 AP via AAP/Tertius Pickard

But their opponent, the young but highly-fancied Germans, is showing little fear of a full-strength Socceroos outfit.

"Die Mannschaft" is oozing confidence, despite being without its two biggest stars, captain Michael Ballack and goalkeeper Rene Adler.

Winger Mesut Oezil says victory against the Socceroos will be a springboard to bigger things.

"Australia are very strong in defence, they are a robust side with a tight group of players.

"But we are playing better. We are well prepared and totally motivated."

And his fellow wingman, Marko Marin, is threatening to "tear [Australia] apart".

"The Australians will be playing deep and it will be important to tear them apart, so to speak, by putting balls in from the wing."

But one of the best coaches in the world, Arsene Wenger, says the Germans will be worried about meeting such a group of "tough cookies".

"If I was the national team coach of Germany and I had to play Australia, I wouldn't sleep well," he told Channel Nine.