Former Japan international Shinji Ono says that people in his nation are very aware that the Australian team possesses a lot of quality.

Ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifier in Brisbane next month, the Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder is predicting a tough battle for the Blue Samurai.

"It's a difficult question - of course I have to say Japan win the game," he told Football Federation Australia's official website.

"But Japan people know the Australian quality, I think it will be a difficult game."

And Ono also reflected on his side's famous loss to Australia in the 2006 World Cup when they led with six minutes of regular time remaining before losing 3-1 in Kaiserslautern.

"My personal memory of 2006 in the World Cup in Germany, I was sitting on the bench at the start," he recalled.

"I didn't start in the starting eleven and after 56 minutes it was 1-0 for Japan, after I came in and we lost 3-1, that's not my favourite memory."

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