Farina Calls In The Cavalry For Fiji Clash

Frank Farina has called in the cavalry to grace the Marden Sports Complex tomorrow, naming an imposing side bursting with overseas pedigree to take on top two hopefuls Fiji.

Frank Farina has called in the cavalry to grace the Marden Sports Complex tomorrow, naming an imposing side bursting with overseas pedigree to take on top two hopefuls Fiji.

Farina has made five changes to his starting eleven that thrashed Tahiti 9-0 last night, with Patrick Kisnorbo, who earns his first start since the 2002 OFC Nations Cup final, joined by Brett Emerton, Marco Bresciano and Max Vieri (pictured right) who were rested against the Polynesians after starting against New Zealand.

FC Basel striker Mile Sterjovski will also earn his first start since February-s 1-1 draw with Venezuela, following his three-goal bonanza as a substitute against Tahiti.

Socceroos Starting Line-up v Fiji: Zeljko Kalac (gk), Jade North, Adrian Madaschi, Patrick Kisnorbo, Tony Vidmar, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Tim Cahill, Marco Bresciano, Max Vieri, Mile Sterjovski

Tomorrow-s match at Marden will be the ninth clash between the two nations and the Socceroos are fully aware of the threat posed by their island neighbours.

Unlike any other team from the pacific, Fiji have twice beaten Australia and are seldom obliging to succumb to defeat to Oceania-s top team.

Both matches won by the Fijians occurred on Fiji turf and both included the same score line, 1-0.

Most recently, the Fijians derailed the Socceroos Italia 90- World Cup campaign courtesy of a devastating one-goal victory in Nadi.

Since then though, it has been relatively smooth sailing for Australia, as they have chalked up 18 goals in their past four outings with the white and blacks. In the last edition of the OFC Nations Cup, an under strength Socceroos side hammered a disappointing Fiji 8-0 in Auckland.

That result was a surprising one, given the tough resistance Farina-s men encountered in Coffs Harbour a year earlier, where goals to Steve Corica and Hayden Foxe saw the Socceroos through in front of 5000 fans in the first stage of qualifiers for Korea/Japan 2002.

The Fijians now linger as the only island side capable of dumping New Zealand out of stage three contention, following their scrappy 1-0 win over Vanuatu last night.

Tony Buesnel-s men have yet to deliver their best in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup but are sure to be switched on for tomorrow-s clash in the boutique surrounds of the Marden Sports Complex.