Australia face stubborn Tunisia in must-win clash

Australia's World Cup clash against Tunisia at Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday pitches a Socceroos side that have struggled to score against a team that have this year made a virtue of not conceding.

The Australians would have long targeted the clash with the North Africans as their best chance of a victory in Group D to break a finals winless streak that goes back to South Africa in 2010.

The fixture became all the more important for Australia after they went down 4-1 to defending champions France in their tournament opener at the same stadium on Tuesday.

Tunisia's 0-0 draw with Denmark earlier the same day, however, offered the Socceroos the glimpse of a path to the knockout stages for the second time in six World Cup campaigns.

"It was good that the other result was a draw and now it's about winning on Saturday, so we have got to get ready for it," said Australia coach Graham Arnold.

Breaching the Tunisian defence has proved beyond all but Brazil in the North African's last 10 games, even if the five-times world champions did it five times in a September friendly in Paris.

Coach Jalel Kadri will be happy to accept accusations of negativity if he can find a way to get his country into the round of 16 for the first time in what is also their sixth appearance at the finals.