MARK Viduka last night admitted his career would finish unfulfilled if he was unable to lead his native Australia into a World Cup finals.

As well as playing in the Premiership, the Middlesbrough striker has also featured in the semi-finals of the Champions League during his time with former club Leeds. But, thus far, those achievements have not been replicated on the international stage.

Viduka's time with Australia has been restricted to meaningless friendlies and unsuccessful qualifying campaigns but, with just four games standing between the Socceroos and next year's World Cup, all that could be about to change.

The striker will be leading the line when Australia take on the Solomon Islands in the first leg of the Oceania play-off tomorrow night. Victory will see them lining up against the fifth-placed South American side in November, with the winners of that two-legged tie making the World Cup finals.

This year's campaign is likely to Viduka's last in green and gold and, after proving his fitness on Teesside this season, the burly frontman is desperate to finish his international days on a high.

"I don't want to waste what time I have left in the game," said the 30-year-old. "Later on, when it is all over, I want to look back on a good career. I want to play in a World Cup, and I want to make the most of my time while I'm feeling good.

"Having sat out much of the last six months, I know how much it means to me to play."

Despite his success in the Premiership, Viduka has a woeful international scoring record.

The Melbourne-born striker boasts only three goals in 26 internationals although, because of his European base, he has not faced Oceanic opposition since 1994.

"For one reason or another, the goals haven't come my way with the Socceroos," admitted Viduka. "But it is not about me, this is about the team and how we can bond together."

Viduka will be back on Teesside when Boro resume their Premiership campaign with a home game against Arsenal on September 10 and, after a whirlwind Wednesday, will join up with two new team-mates.

Abel Xavier has signed a one-year contract, replacing the departed Michael Reiziger, while Fabio Rochemback has penned a five-year deal.