Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou is used to pressure, but the sudden-death nature of the two-legged World Cup qualifying tie against Syria presents challenges he and his players have never faced.

But the national team boss, who has faced down his critics before – particularly after the disappointing 2-1 victory over Thailand in Melbourne in September – is sticking to his knitting for these two must-win games.

There will be no tactical revamp and no real change from the high-tempo game he wants his team to play.

"Nothing will change ... I have not lost (faith) in what I do," Postecoglou said on Tuesday as he prepared his side for the first game against the Syrians, a match being staged in Malaysia as their Middle Eastern opponents are not able to play at home.

"We have spent the last three weeks making sure that everyone is ready for this, the players and the staff have all come back into camp clearly focussed on the task at hand.

"We watched all their qualifying games, we know what they bring to it. It's match play against an opponent over two games knowing that it's do-or-die scenario.

"They managed to score goals late in games to get themselves results and obviously they are hard to break down. It's not going to be a lot different to what we have been facing already through the qualifying process."

The conditions in Malaysia will be difficult, but that is nothing new for Postecoglou and his team.

"The pitch won't be great, it's going to be pretty humid, but it will be pretty similar to Thailand."

Postecoglou raised eyebrows with his selection of Nikita Rukavytsya, who had been in the international wilderness for several years.

But the Israel-based frontman's pace and unpredictability could be a wildcard in a game in which the Syrians are expected to defend in depth and try to frustrate their better-known opponents.

"He's got pace and he provides something a little bit different up front. Tomi Juric and Timmy have certain (other) strengths," says Postecoglou, referring to their strength in the air and the former's ability to hold the ball up and lead the line.

"He's (Rukavytsya) settled, probably for the first time in a long time. He is enjoying his football. He is always one that I wanted to bring in at some point. We will bring him in, have a look at him, hopefully he can add something. He's more mature ... looking from the outside he looks more settled than earlier in his career. "

* Socceroo assistant coach Ante Milicic has been a key player in Postecoglou's set-up for the past few years, but the national team coach says he would not stand in his way if Milicic wanted to quit and return to club football.

Milicic, a former assistant at Melbourne City, is one of a number of coaches whose name has been linked with Western Sydney Wanderers, whose boss, Tony Popovic, walked out at the weekend.

Hayden Foxe has been put in charge on a caretaker basis, but if the Wanderers want to cast their net wider and Milicic was interested, he would go with Postecoglou's backing.

"I can't speak for Ante, but I think he would be an outstanding appointment, he is a fantastic coach. He has got all the tools and... I certainly wouldn't be standing in his way if that's the way he wanted to go."