THE Socceroos will need to make the most of their home-ground advantage against Kyrgyzstan in 10 days' time. Sitting second in our group, four points behind Jordan, and with a game in hand, there can be no more slip-ups, as there were in Amman a month ago. 
The top team in each of the eight groups and the best four runners-up go through to the next phase of qualifying. We are expected to top our group which also contains Bangladesh and Tajikistan. But that might be easier said than done - I don't think too many expected us to lose to Jordan despite it being away from home and our defeat there in the 2014 campaign.
Ange Postecoglou has brought back goalkeeper Matt Ryan and Captain Mile Jedinak who have both missed the last few matches through injury but it remains to be seen whether he will start them both.
Jedinak could certainly add some defensive cover in front of the centre backs but that would change Postecoglou's renowned emphasis on attack to a degree. Tim Cahill is sure to start after coming off the bench in Amman which means Tom Oar and more than likely Matt Leckie will be the wider attackers. Oar is the best crosser we have and if we are to play to Cahill's strengths then he can provide the service needed from the left.
Postecoglou has almost too many options in the front half of the pitch and it's a real juggling act as to who to play. It's at the other end where we tend to get caught out. The Jordanians highlighted a lack of pace in central defence and a tendency to play too square at times.
Trent Sainsbury, who was outstanding in the Asian Cup is available and might be useful tightening up some of the holes Jordan found.
Regardless of who is picked we should win games at home or we won't be going to Russia in three years and won't deserve to.
Australia, as the Asian Cup proved, is good on home soil but nothing can or should be taken for granted.
On more domestic issues it looks like the Phoenix might be returning to the ashes after the FFA rejected granting the club a 10-year licence extension, instead offering it to apply for four years instead.Wellington it seems, costs the A-League money to participate in the competition. Their likely replacement is a club from the southern suburbs of Sydney. My mail is that relevant bodies have been working behind the scenes for quite some time and should the worst-case scenario occur they will be ready to go as soon as next season.