Syria midfielder Mohammed ZaherMidani is hopeful of overcoming Australia in the fourth round play-off of the AFC qualifiers.

The politically unstable country has played its home games in Malaysia, and they will entertain Australia in the first-leg of the play-off from the Hang Jebat Stadium on Thursday.

The Syrians have previously registered wins over Uzbekistan and Qatar at the Hang Jebat Stadium while drawing the remaining games in the third round of the qualification phase. As a result, Midani is optimistic of securing a positive result against the Socceroos to take into the return leg in Sydney five days later.