Australia and Japan have played out another exciting chapter in their rivalry, drawing 1-1 in their World Cup qualifier at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne.

Any thoughts Japan would be tentative against an in-form Socceroos outfit were blown out of the water after just five minutes when Genki Haraguchi darted into space in the box and slid the ball past Mat Ryan for the opening goal.

Australia looked out of sorts as the Japan's pressing completely stopped Australia playing its favoured passing game, and the Socceroos were perhaps lucky not to be further behind at the break.

A somewhat revitalised Socceroos outfit showed signs of improvement after half-time, and the more vibrant outlook paid dividends when Tomi Juric ran onto a cross from Brad Smith before being bundled over by the goalscorer Haraguchi in the box to win a penalty.

Captain Mile Jedinak converted with venom from the spot to make it 1-1, and from that point the Socceroos piled on the pressure in search of the go-ahead goal.

Mile Jedinak's penalty helped Australia grab a point against Japan. ( AAP Image: Julian Smith )

Australia controlled possession and brought on attacking weapons Tim Cahill and Matthew Leckie to go for the kill, but all the while Japan continued to create great chances of their own on the break.

Mat Ryan made the game's best save from Yu Kobayashi's header 15 minutes from time, and substitute Takuma Asano may well have found a decisive goal had his feet been a size bigger.

Australia's next best chance came from a looping Matt Spiranovic's header, which sailed relatively harmlessly over the bar.

In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, and the Japanese will most likely leave Docklands the happier after securing a valuable away point against their main group rivals.

The Socceroos are next back in action on November 15 in Thailand as Group B remains awfully tight.