Celtic and Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura says Australia still pose the biggest threat to his country's hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa

Australia were drawn alongside Japan in the fourth round of Asian World Cup qualifying in Kuala Lumpur and are joined in Group A by Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar.

Nakamura said victory against Bahrain in Manama on Sept. 6, where Japan were beaten 1-0 in the previous round, would be vital to the Japanese qualifying before their final game in Australia in June 2009.

"We would hope to be through already before playing them away," the Hoops playmaker told reporters after Friday's draw. "It would be a tough game to win in Australia otherwise."

Australia beat Japan 3-1 at the 2006 World Cup but the Japanese avenged that defeat by knocking the Socceroos out of last year's Asian Cup on a penalty shootout in Hanoi.

"I think we put the World Cup trauma behind us by beating them at the Asian Cup," said Nakamura. "But we know they are a big, strong team.

Fridays full draw in Kuala Lumpur

The top two countries in each group will go straight to the 2010 World Cup, while the two third-placed teams will play-off to then challenge the winner of the Oceania group in a two-legged contest.

Group A

Australia
Japan
Bahrain
Uzbekistan
Qatar

Group B

South Korea
Iran
Saudi Arabia
North Korea
UAE