SEOUL, South Korea — Asian World Cup qualifiers will have a Middle-Eastern flavor on Wednesday and Manchester United star Park Ji-sung knows that means a difficult challenge for his South Korea team.

The Middle East will host all four of the World Cup qualifiers this week, and none bigger than Saudi Arabia against South Korea at Riyadh. The two nations have 11 World Cup appearances between them and, along with North Korea and Iran, have collected four points in a tight Group Two.

South Korean has a poor recent record against the 'Sons of the Desert,' failing to win any of their last five meetings.

"It is a tough game but we have come here to win," Park said. "We don't have a good record against them. We will do our best to change that."

Making it more difficult for the visitors, Borussia Dortmund's Lee Young-pyo is the only fit fullback among the regulars and will make his 100th international appearance.

Saudi Arabia has worries of its own. Asian Player of the Year Yasser Al-Qahtani will miss the game with injury. Swiss-based defender Hussein Abdulghani and Malek Maaz are also doubtful starters, while Saad Al Harthi is suspended.

As the final round of qualification approaches the halfway stage, teams like Australia and Japan are bidding to break clear of chasing packs while others such as UAE and Bahrain are in desperate need of a win just to remain in contention.

Only the top two teams in each of the two groups of five automatically qualify for the World Cup.

In Group One, Australia is the only team with a 100 percent record and is aiming for a third straight win when it plays Bahrain at Manama. The Socceroos won in Uzbekistan in September and at home to Qatar last month.

With the return of Mark Bresciano and Harry Kewell from injury, coach Pim Verbeek initially named a strong squad but it was soon depleted by withdrawals.

Former Glasgow Rangers captain and Newcastle United defender Craig Moore, the only A-league player originally selected, was last week ruled out after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer, Blackburn Rovers pair Brett Emerton and Vince Grella are injured and Celtic striker Scott Macdonald is also out.

Despite the absentees, West Ham defender and captain Lucas Neill remains confident Australia can win.

"I'm sure whoever plays will do a proud performance for the country and hopefully we'll be sitting on the top of the table with nine points," Neill said.

Better news is that the usually injury-prone Kewell is in fine form for Turkish giants Galatasaray and scored his seventh goal in 13 games for the club last weekend.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada was criticized by the domestic media after last month's turgid draw with Uzbekistan put the team two points behind Australia.

"I have selected members who understand the way this team plays and who are highly motivated to represent Japan with determination to win," Okada said. "Qatar players have individual skills and it will be tough if we are outdone in one-on-one situations. We cannot beat them if we don't outrun them."

Good news for Okada is that playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura should be fit despite a knee injury, though influential defender Yuji Nakazawa and goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki are definitely out.

In Group Two's other match, UAE travels to Iran knowing that a fourth straight defeat will end any chance of a second World Cup appearance.

UAE sits in last place with no points and little hope of making it to South Africa in 2010.

"This game is our last chance and the players fully understand it," coach Dominique Batheney said.

UAE could be without captain Abdulraheem Jumaa, Walid Abbas, Mohammed Qassim and Ali Abbas

Iran is in good form but coach Ali Daei is wary of the wounded host. "We are well aware that the UAE are very dangerous, has nothing to lose and are determined to get all three points."