Verbeek keeps his options open

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has selected several overseas-based stars in a 39-man squad for the team's first World Cup qualifying match against Qatar in Melbourne in a fortnight. Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer are among those who have agreed to return home despite European club commitments.

But Verbeek says he will need to assess their fitness after their weekend club matches before knowing which players will make the trip to Australia. Seven players from A-League finalist Newcastle and eight Olyroos players have been named in the squad.

"I have deliberately kept the squad big to give us maximum flexibility until match day," Verbeek said. "The Socceroos have a very unique set of circumstances with the distances involved, the number of players in overseas leagues and the timing of this first, critical match in the 2010 World Cup campaign."

Mark Viduka has a Monday morning match for Newcastle United in the English Premier League the same week, ruling him out of contention. Verbeek says he still has plans for the veteran striker and he may feature during the qualifying campaign. "The door is never closed for Mark Viduka but the players who play on Sunday and coming here on Tuesday, I think that's too much," he said.

Scott Chipperfield is just returning from injury and is not match fit. The squad contains a first - twins in Jets pair Joel and Adam Griffiths. "I have been very pleased with the way the local players have responded to what we're trying to do in the recent training camps we have held," Verbeek said. "I want to give them every opportunity to state their claim to be part of the final 18 man squad which must be named on match day."

Australia must finish in the top two of its group, which also includes Asian Cup champions Iraq and China, to advance to the final group stage.

Australia squad:
John Aloisi (Central Coast), Michael Beauchamp (Nurnberg), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Mark Bridge (Newcastle Jets), Alex Brosque (Sydney FC), Jacob Burns (Wisla Krakow), Tim Cahill (Everton), Nick Carle (Bristol City), David Carney (Sheffield United), Simon Colosimo (Perth Glory), Ante Covic (Newcastle Jets), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven), Bruce Djite (Adelaide), Travis Dodd (Adelaide), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Vince Grella (Torino), Adam Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), Joel Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen), Josh Kennedy (Karlsruhe), Harry Kewell (Liverpool), Scott McDonald (Celtic), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Craig Moore (Queensland Roar), Kevin Muscat (Melbourne Victory), Stuart Musialik (Newcastle Jets), Lucas Neill (West Ham United), Jade North (Newcastle Jets), Tom Pondeljak (Central Coast), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Archie Thompson (Melbourne), Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth), James Troisi (Newcastle United), Carl Valeri (Grosseto), Rodrigo Vargas (Melbourne), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast), Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente).