Japan are five points clear in Group C after four games with Australia, the Saudis and Bahrain all level behind them and in a race to take second spot.
The top two will seal their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America, with third and fourth going into another round of Asian qualifying.
The Socceroos face Renard's team today before heading to Bahrain next week.
"We expect a very energetic, determined side, maybe desperate to get a result," Popovic said of Saudi Arabia.
This story is from the November 14, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
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This story is from the November 14, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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