But Uzbekistan team manager Vadim Abramov said on Tuesday the 26-year-old was on track to be ready for the match.

’’He has an injury now but I think he is getting over it and he is getting ready for the match little by little,’’ Abramov said of Djeparov, who scored 19 goals in 23 games to lead Bunyodkor to the Uzbek title last season.

’’I hope that our doctors will do a great job and that he will be ready for the match.’’

Abramov fielded questions on Tuesday in the absence of coach Mirdjalol Kasimov, who was sick and had a temperature but the team manager said the coach’s illness would not be a disruption to their preparations.

"I don’t think so because he is not playing, he is only giving instructions,’’ Abramov said.

Abramov also dismissed injury concerns over Farhod Tadjiyev, who scored a hat-trick in Saturday’s win, and said Uzbekistan had the belief they could carry on their strong form and upset the Australians.

"Why not?’’ he said in English.

The Uzbecks will be without their inspirational captain and top scorer Maksim Shatskikh due to illness and must also battle jetlag and a hurried preparation after a hectic travelling schedule since Saturday’s win.

However, they are refusing to use that as an excuse, knowing full well the Socceroos have faced similar challenges right throughout the campaign.

’’I think these problems are not worth complaining about because Australia had also the same problems when they visited Tashkent,’’ Abramov said.

’’Problems always exist but the important thing is to find the solution to them.’’

Despite Saturday’s win, Abramov was frank about Uzbekistan’s qualification hopes, saying his team had no hope of clinching one of the top two spots in the group and now had to focus on securing the third-place playoff spot.

He said his team would be happy with a draw in Sydney but admitted a loss would be hard to take. ’’It wouldn’t be a disaster for us but it would be very unpleasant ... it’s a long way to come to Australia,’’ he said.