THE soccer World Cup prospects of some of Asia’s strongest teams will be tested in China today when the nation hosts two vital qualification matches.

Not only does China take on Australia, but the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea will meet in a much anticipated game in Shanghai.

The DPRK’s refusal to fly the South’s flag and play the South Korean anthem prompted FIFA to relocate the game from Pyongyang to Shanghai’s Hongkou Stadium.

With one game of the third round of qualification already completed, 20 Asian nations are still on the road to South Africa in 2010. The top two teams from each of the five four-team groups will progress to the final stage of continental qualification.

The two Koreas occupy the top two spots of Group 3. The DPRK won 1-0 in Jordan while the South thrashed Turkmenistan 4-0 at Seoul.

The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in February’s East Asian championship, also held in China.

China’s decision to play Group 1 rival Australia in Kunming, at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters, has provoked a few comments from the Socceroos.

“It’s going to be a real challenge,” West Ham defender Lucas Neill told Australian media.

It should certainly be a tougher test than the one provided by Qatar at Melbourne in February, especially as Premier League stars Brett Emerton and Tim Cahill are absent.

Coach Pim Verbeek’s first game in charge of Australia ended with a 3-0 win, the same night China drew 1-1 with Asian Cup champion Iraq.

“China has to win,” Verbeek said. “There is no doubt about that — a draw is not good enough and a loss will probably mean the end of qualification. The pressure is much more on their shoulders than ours.”

Iraq faces Qatar after firing Norwegian coach Egil Olsen and reinstating former player Adnan Hamad in February.

Asian powerhouse Japan should be able to establish control of Group 2.

After defeating Thailand 4-1 in Saitama last month, Japan takes on Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia lived up to its billing as Group 4 favorite with a 2-0 win over Singapore in its opening game, but faces a tougher task in Tashkent, where Uzbekistan is aiming for revenge for its 2007 Asian Cup quarterfinal defeat.

Group 5 is an all West Asian affair. Iran has failed to score in its last six games, a barren run that includes a surprise goalless draw at home to Syria in the opening World Cup qualifier at Tehran.

The United Arab Emirates leads the group after a 2-0 defeat of Kuwait, but coach Bruno Metsu will face a tougher task in Syria.(SD-Agencies)