Uzbekistan team official Vadim Abramov, speaking on behalf of the team said the coach had a temperature and joked having an ill manager would not disrupt their plans as "the coach is not playing, he’s just giving the instructions".

Ironically, a bug also went through Australia’s camp ahead of the two sides’ clash in Tashkent last September with Jason Culina and Jade North both being ruled out due to stomach problems.

Abramov, speaking through an interpreter, added that he hoped injured star Server Djeparov will be ready for Wednesday night’s match but conceded for Uzbekistan it was all about playing for third place.

"Everything will be very important for us when we play in Bahrain away," he said.

And the Uzbeks won’t make excuses of jet lag, injuries and a tight schedule ahead of the game at Sydney’s ANZ stadium Wednesday night.

"These problems are not worth to complain because Australia had also the same problems when they visited Tashkent and they were confident to win 1-0," said Abramov.

"Problems always exist but the important thing is to find a solution."

Heavy rain this afternoon in Sydney is likely to make tomorrow night’s pitch quite heavy although the surface is in excellent condition after ten sport-free days leading into Wednesday night’s qualifier.

Quizzed on whether he felt Uzbekistan could beat Australia Abramov broke into English and dead-panned. "Why not".

Asked how, he joked again: "Do you think I will answer to that question?"