THE Socceroos haven't been major underdogs in three years but talisman Tim Cahill believes they are good enough to take the game to group leaders Japan on Tuesday.

But Cahill warned that his team must kick its recent bad habit of conceding early goals, as was the case in the disastrous 2-2 draw at home to Oman in March.

Australia is the $4 outsider with TAB for Tuesday night's clash at Saitama Stadium against a Japanese side on the verge of securing World Cup qualification.

They're the longest odds since the 2010 World Cup opener against Germany when the Socceroos drifted to $7.50.

But the New York attacker, who's proved a thorn in Japan's side several times, said Australia had the talent to cause an upset.

"The key is just us worrying about us," Cahill said. "We already know their strengths, we know their top players, we know they'll try and roll us and be in our faces and be high pressing to win the ball back as soon as possible and obviously they're sitting top of the table so they don't have to chase the game.

"We have to prepare right, stay relaxed and play the game, not the occasion.

"It's about us as a team. At the moment they're the best. But we're a good team, there's some good players.

"A lot of people talk about the transition but when I look at the players, regardless of where they're based, I still feel it's a strong squad."

Striker Alex Brosque, who played for J-League side Shimzu S-Pulse before moving to United Arab Emirates side Al Ain last year, said the team took great confidence from the 1-1 draw with Japan in Brisbane last year.

"We know like last June we can more than match it with Japan and really we have nothing to fear as long as we can get our parts right," Brosque said. "We've come here and being away from the media and pressure back home has got everyone relaxed."

With Japan-based striker Josh Kennedy available, coach Holger Osieck has options in attack but Cahill said the Socceroos wouldn't resort to a predictable gameplan.

"It all depends on them and how they set up.

"They might be sitting and waiting for that (long balls into the penalty area) so we assess the game as it goes along and you adapt tactically to what's thrown at you," he said.

"Sometimes it's unfair to say we just go to the air a lot because we tend to play a lot of football, but when you go down and you're (behind) the eight ball, you've got no choice but to swing it in the box.

"Unfortunately we've gone behind on too many occasions and we've had to resort to forcing it.

"Hopefully against Japan it won't be like that."

Australia (six points) sits third in its group behind Japan (13) and Jordan (7), but has a game in hand, with only the top two guaranteed a spot at the finals in Brazil. The Socceroos still have to play home games against Jordan and Iraq.