Big name ... Oman's Ali Al-Habsi presents an obstacle for the Socceroos. Source: Chris Ison / AAP
For a rivalry that only began in 2007, Australia and Oman have built a fair amount of history already - and if that history tells us anything, it's that next Tuesday's World Cup qualifier will be a tight and potentially tense affair.
Who can forget that first meeting in the sweltering heat of Bangkok at the Asian Cup of 2007? Then, the "Red Warriors" shocked an underdone Australia, coming within minutes of pulling off a surprise victory, before Tim Cahill (who else?) popped up with a late equaliser.
In 2009, the nations met twice in Asian Cup qualification. In November of that year, Australia won narrowly (Cahill again), but not before spiteful exchanges in the dugouts, with Oman coach Claude Le Roy expressing his displeasure at FFA staffer, Gary Moretti, for comments allegedly directed towards him at half time.
In the return in Muscat barely a month later, Rhys Williams was sent off after just fifteen minutes, as Australia fought back from a goal down to win 2-1.
In 2011, they were paired together again for the current World Cup qualifying series. Australia won the first meeting in Sydney comfortably, but Oman finally scored the win they'd threatened for so long in the return, with Imad Al Hosni's 18th minute strike the decider.
Finally, in June of last year, the two played out a goalless draw in blistering heat in Muscat - on a night when home fans were accused of shining lasers into the Australian players eyes at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
The Oman of 2013 is, like Australia, going through something of a rebuilding phase. If Australia's golden generation is centred around the World Cup of 2006, then Oman's is based on the 2004 Asian Cup, where many of their current crop first burst onto the international stage.
Earlier that year, Oman reached the Gulf Cup final for the first time, losing to Qatar on penalties. Goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi was voted goalkeeper of the tournament, while striker Imad Al Hosni won the golden boot with four goals.
Both are still around, and will travel to Sydney. But many of their peers are starting to drop away - the latest of which is tricky playmaker (and erstwhile captain), Fawzi Bashir, who has announced his retirement from international football.
Bashir (who many will remember tying the Australian defence up in knots in Melbourne in 2009), has increasingly played a "bit-part" role for the national team, and the final straw appears to have been coach Paul Le Guen's decision not to consider him for the trip down under.
Bashir - whose spell at UAE club side, Bani Yas, was brought to a close by the arrival of Socceroo Nick Carle - is held in such high regard by the Oman FA, that they will hold a testimonial for him at some future date.
Others to fall by the wayside due to age, injury or loss of form are Hassan Rabia, (top scorer at the 2009 Gulf Cup), defender Mohammed Rabia (veteran of the 2004 & 2007 Asian Cups), Khalifa Ayil (scorer of the opening goal against Australia in Muscat in 2009), Ahmed Hadid (currently injured), and Bader Al Maimani, who scored in that very first meeting between the nations in 2007.
Other members of the golden generation - notably Ahmed Mubarak "Kanu", Ismail Al-Ajmi and Juma Darwish - survive for now, but Le Guen made his intentions clear ahead of the most recent Gulf Cup in January, selecting several youngsters, and remaining unrepentant, despite Oman finishing bottom of their section.
"We have to accept that some are on the verge of finishing with the national team, so we have to refresh," said Le Guen.
The best of the new breed, built around the Gulf under-23 Cup success in 2011, appears to be Eid Al-Farsi - a muscular, hard-running attacker who is comfortable on either flank. Al-Farsi earned a brief trial at Wigan Athletic after scoring against the Republic of Ireland last September, and while a contract wasn't forthcoming, it may not be long before he joins Al-Habsi and Al-Hosni on the brief list of Omani's to have played in Europe. Defender Saad Suhail is another who enjoyed a brief trial overseas - with Arsenal in January 2012.
Al-Farsi started in Oman's latest friendly against Haiti in an attacking looking 4-4-2 line-up, featuring twin strikers in Imad Al-Hosni and Abdullaziz Al Miqbali. Al Miqbali netted a hat-trick in just 12 minutes, as Oman recorded an easy 3-0 win.
But Australia are several levels above Haiti, and with the qualification equation so tight, does Le Guen gamble with two strikers in Sydney? Or does Al Miqbali play a more withdrawn role?
One thing is for sure - Al-Hosni will not be the man to make way. After scoring both goals for Al Ahli in their Asian Champions League success last week against Al Nasr, Le Guen was gushing in his praise for his talismanic striker.
"An Oman team without Al-Hosni is unthinkable. He is world class," said the Frenchman.
The country’s quest to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil re-starts on Tuesday night. Australia are locked in a dogfight with Oman, Iraq and Jordan for the second automatic spot in Group B, eight points behind Japan. You can watch this vital clash live and in stunning HD from 6.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 1 HD, with kick-off from 7pm.
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