Australia and Paraguay are set to meet in what promises to be a compelling clash, with both sides fighting for the second qualification spot in a Group D heavily overshadowed by the United States.

The Socceroos enter the fixture knowing that a strong result could see them advance deeper into the tournament, while Paraguay are equally motivated to secure their passage through the group stage.

With the United States widely expected to top the group, the remaining nations are locked in a tight contest to claim the runner-up berth — and this fixture is set to go a long way toward deciding who takes it.

The match presents an intriguing opportunity for young Australian forward Nestory Irankunda, who has the chance to leave a mark on this FIFA World Cup and write his name into the history of the competition.

Both teams will be aware that anything less than full commitment could see them eliminated, making this one of the more urgent encounters in the group stage.