We can exploit Japan jitters: Neill Jitters: Australian skipper Lucas Neill believes the Socceroos are meeting Japan at the right time following their shock loss to Bulgaria last week. The Socceroos' psychological hold on Japan could provide the groundwork for a shock result in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Saitama, according to captain Lucas Neill. Although Japan have knocked Australia out of the past two Asian Cups, they've not beaten the Socceroos inside the regulation 90 minutes for 12 years. Neill believes that's because the Australian style makes the Japanese players uncomfortable, leading him to predict the game could go either way. "Of course there is [an edge]," Neill said at the Socceroos team hotel on Thursday. Mentally, we know we have a small edge over them. Physically, we know we have a small edge over them. Tactically, and on form, they have a small edge on us, so it's a very even game. Let's get it out there - they haven't beaten us inside 90 minutes in a very long time. At 1-0 down and down to 10 men in Brisbane, you'd have thought we would be down and out but we weren't. They need to be reminded of moments and matches like that. It will be a great fight for the points. Neill also wonders whether the Japanese players can cope with the surging public attention that is about to reach a crescendo in the next month. "Have a look at the way they hype their national team now - they're everywhere," he said. The media they bring is a circus, and I think they're feeling it. They're going away to Confederations Cup to play Mexico, Brazil and Italy but have now lost to Jordan [away] and Bulgaria at home, a game everyone thought was a nice way to gain confidence for this game, so let's hope we can keep them on that roll. He also feels there could be a particular weak link with Eiji Kawashima, the Japanese goalkeeper who made a comical blunder against Bulgaria. "I know the goalkeeper will be a little bit nervy, and I'm sure he won't be looking forward to a few more balls going into the box tomorrow," he said. We've got to take advantage of that. Keepers are like strikers, they go through phases. Goalscorers who don't score goals think about it too much, and keepers that let in easy goals think like that too. It's all about confidence, and I think his is rattled. Maybe we'll rattle it a bit more. Although the clubless Neill concedes his own preparation hasn't been ideal, he's pleased to have emerged from a mini "old-school pre-season" under coach Holger Osieck in recent weeks. "I played a [friendly] against Central Coast for 80 minutes - two 40 minute halves - but it was as intense as an A-League game as you could get," he said. Then was the Sydney Olympic game and then the Manly game, which is another 80 minutes. Technically, it's three games in the past two-and-a-half weeks, and, in between that, a hell of a lot of training. It's not ideal match fitness for me but I've got enough miles under the belt to justify my fitness - and the experience, hopefully, will take care of the rest. Meanwhile, Neill's club future will depend entirely on whether Australia qualifies for the World Cup. I specifically said to my agent that my only goal is to get to Brazil with Australia, and I don't want to think about anything else - because that dictates the future of my football. I won't make a decision until, at least, June 19," he said. If we don't make the World Cup, it would change my decision completely. If we do, then there's a different conversation to be had. I'll pick a club that has the best football that can be played and where I know I'm going to play week in, week out, regardless of lifestyle finance, lifestyle and everything else. Despite the A-League moving to a later finish next season, Neill said it remained a "problem" for those wanting to go to a World Cup. "This past season has just finished too early going into an important June," he said. I know they've tried to extend it but the same thing may happen where there's still too much of a gap in between. World Cup qualifier: Japan v Australia, 8:30pm (EST) Tuesday, Saitama Stadium 2002, Tokyo. Television: Fox Sports 2 and 2HD. Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain) Australia: 4-2-3-1 - Schwarzer; McKay, Neill, Ognenovski, Wilkshire; Bresciano, Jedinak; Oar, Cahill, Kruse; Kennedy. Japan: 4-2-3-1 - Kawashima; Nagatomo, Konno, Yoshida, Uchida; Endo, Hasebe; Kagawa, Honda, Okazaki; Maeda 2012 - World Cup qualifier: Australia 1-1 Japan, Brisbane. 2011 - Asian Cup final: Japan 1-0 Australia (after extra-time), Doha. 2009 - World Cup qualifier: Australia 2-1 Japan, Melbourne. 2008 - World Cup qualifier: Japan 0-0 Australia, Yokohama. 2007 - Asian Cup quarter-final: Japan 1-1 Australia (Japan won 4-3 on penalties), Hanoi. Keisuke Honda (JPA) - All the talk from the Japanese press has been about the late arrival of the CSKA Moscow star into camp, having played in Saturday night's Russian Cup final. The brilliant midfielder is expected to start but fatigue could be an issue. Josh Kennedy (AUS) - Finally back after not appearing in an Australian shirt since November 2011, Kennedy offers a point of difference with his towering height. Whether it's attractive or not, Kennedy's aerial efficiency makes him an eternal threat. Yuto Nagatomo (JPA) - Asian football's best left-back is reviving the tradition of Japanese players heading to the Serie A. That he plays for Inter Milan, and already has over 50 national caps at the age of 26, reflects his immense ability. Robbie Kruse (AUS) - Though Tim Cahill remains Australia's heart and soul in attack, Kruse's quality has seen him shine in the Bundesliga and he needs to replicate that form for the national team. A big performance from him is vital to the visitors" chances. Eiji Kawashima (JPA) - The Japanese goalkeeper put in a howler in the midweek friendly against Bulgaria and the Socceroos are privately hoping his confidence will be in tatters. Expect Australia to test him with plenty of crosses and aerial challenges. Luke Wilkshire (AUS) v Shinji Kagawa (JPA) The rise and rise of Shinji Kagawa seems limitless and he's arguably the biggest sports star in Japanese football since the mythological Hidetoshi Nakata retired. The Manchester United forward is likely to play on the left side of attacking midfield and, from there, he'll look to create chances for others and possibly finish a few himself. Luke Wilkshire is an experienced campaigner but he'll need to be at his very best here. Holger Osieck (AUS): With his job on the line, Osieck's task here is to try and get at least a draw. A bad loss could see a swift meeting at FFA headquarters, where the axe could fall if the result is embarrassing. He knows the players have to give him more than what they have so far. Alberto Zaccheroni (JPA): His experimental 3-4-3 against Bulgaria backfired but the Italian is too smart to try that again. He's got a squad dripping with quality and his only task is to make sure the players aren't drawn into a physical scrap, one which would suit Australia.