Australia v Saudi Arabia at a glance

AUSTRALIA'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA AT A GLANCE

* WHEN: Thursday, kickoff 7.30pm local time (8pm AEST)

* WHERE: Adelaide Oval

* GROUP STANDINGS

Japan - 16 points. Five wins, one draw, one loss. Goal difference: plus nine

Saudi Arabia - 16 points. Five wins, one draw, one loss. Goal difference: plus eight

Australia - 13 points. Three wins, four draws, no losses. Goal difference: plus five

United Arab Emirates - Nine points. Three wins, no draws, four losses. Goal difference: minus three

Iraq - Four points. One win, one draw, five losses. Goal difference: minus three

Thailand: One point. No wins, one draw, six losses. Goal difference: minus 16

* THE OUTLOOK

All nations have three group games remaining. Australia and Saudi Arabia both have games against Japan to come.

* AUSTRALIA'S SCHEDULE

After the game against the Saudis, Australia play Japan in Japan on August 31, then Thailand in Australia on September 5.

* THE WASH-UP

Top two nations qualify automatically for next year's World Cup in Russia.

Third-placed nation plays third-placed nation, home and away, from the other Asian confederation qualifying group.

The winner of the Asian play-off then plays fourth-placed nation, home and away, from Central and Northern America qualifying group for a place in the World Cup