MARK Viduka is hoping the memory of his most painful moment in football will inspire him to fire Australia into the World Cup finals later this month.

The Middlesbrough striker, who is expected to return to the starting line-up in Thursday's UEFA Cup group-stage game with Dnipro, will link up with his international team-mates next week ahead of two of the biggest games of his career.

After topping the Oceania section of World Cup qualifying, Australia must overcome Uruguay in a two-legged play-off to book their place in next summer's finals in Germany.

That situation is nothing new to Viduka. Four years ago, the Socceroos missed out on Japan and Korea after letting slip a one-goal lead against the same opponents.

But, while that reverse hurt, it did not eclipse the pain caused by an even more dramatic defeat four years earlier.

Australia conceded a two-goal advantage to Iran after encountering riotous scenes in Tehran and, while he has gone on to achieve countless successes, Viduka is still haunted by one of the blackest nights of his career.

"We were winning 2-0 with 15 minutes to go and then an idiot ran onto the pitch and the game was stopped," said the 30-year-old.

"All of a sudden, we lost our rhythm and they made it 2-2 and we were out. I was only in my early 20s at the time and I've never felt hurt like that in football."

Like his compatriot Harry Kewell, this month's play-off is likely to represent Viduka's final chance of appearing in a World Cup finals.

Uruguay will be committed opponents but, with new coach Guus Hiddink at the helm, Viduka is confident Australia can make it third time lucky.

"Our new manager is amazing, everything about him so far has been superb," he said. "He's been to the World Cup finals before, took South Korea to the semi-finals and also managed PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid.

"You can't help but pick up confidence from a manager like that and to know that someone is in charge with so much experience is important for us players that haven't reached the finals before."

Middlesbrough fans have a double incentive to cheer on Australia, as goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer should also feature in this month's play-off games.

The Boro shot-stopper, who helped the Socceroos brush aside the Solomon Islands earlier this season, has been in fine fettle domestically in the last two months.

But with Hiddink having named a 23-man squad for the double header, Schwarzer's understudy, AC Milan stand-in Zeljko Kalac, has staked his claim for a place in the side.

"I offer something extra," claimed Kalac. "I've played against South Americans a lot and I know what to expect.

"Just because I don't play in England doesn't make me worse than Schwarzy. In my view, I have more versatility."

Schwarzer's immediate priority is Thursday's UEFA Cup clash with managerless Dnipro, with a win all but guaranteeing progress to the knockout stage..

With just 14,191 fans having watched Boro's qualifying-round win over Xanthi, chairman Steve Gibson is hoping Saturday's heroics will have persuaded the doubters to show their support.

"I understand their frustration with our form so far this season," said Gibson. "But we have worked hard to enjoy nights like this and want to do well now we have got here.

"The fans can play a big part in that. We do not run Middlesbrough FC as a business. We run it for sporting glory, for occasions such as this."

Meanwhile, Boro's medical staff have allayed fears over the seriousness of Saturday's injury to Fabio Rochemback.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.