The Australians have only taken part in three previous editions of the tournament and though they have reached the knock-out stage twice before, they have yet to progress to the last four.

They were drawn in a tough Group B for this edition which included defending champions and nine-time winners Iran as well as Tajikistan and Kuwait.

But Australia more than held their own in the group with their only defeat coming against the Iranians and they undoubtedly gave Hossein Shams’ charges their toughest test yet.

And Knight hailed his young players for having not looked out of place at the tournament and is confident they will give their all against the Uzbeks.

“Playing the hosts is never easy but we will fight the best we can,” he said.

"We have a team of several experienced players but the rest of the team are all young. They are from 17 to 20 years old, and the experience they have got in this tournament is the best way for them to progress.”

Uzbekistan coach Sergio Sapo wants his players to prove they are worthy of reaching the final by dominating a game for the first time at the tournament.

The Central Asians won all three matches in Group A as they secured first place but they have yet to run away with game with their biggest victory margin being just three goals, when they beat minnows Chinese Taipei 4-1 on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan are hoping to reach the final for the first time since 2006 and for only the third time in history but Sapo knows it will not happen if they cannot put a game beyond the reach of their opponents.

“Chinese Taipei looked very good,” he said. “But then this is sometimes our own fault because we allowed our opponents to play well."