The Socceroos are looking to make history when they take on Egypt in the World Cup’s round of 32 early Saturday morning (AEST).

Coach Tony Popovic’s side equalled the feat of Australia’s 2006 and 2022 squads by becoming just the third Socceroos team to advance out of the group stage.

If it defies its detractors and goes a step further with a win over Egypt at Dallas Stadium, it will be the first Australian side to claim a victory in the knockout round.

Egypt has the upper hand on paper, ranked 26 in the world to Australia’s 28th and boasting one of the world’s best players in Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Salah, along with Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush.

However, Salah is no certainty to take the field as he works to overcome a hamstring strain he picked up in last week’s Group G win over Iran.

Socceroos central defender Alessandro Circati, who plays for top-flight Italian side Parma, says Australia has the measure of the Egyptians.

The 22-year-old Circati counts the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram and Rasmus Hojlund among his regular opponents and knows what it takes to quell the influence of top players.

“The individual players are pretty good, the likes of Salah and Marmoush going forward,” he said.

“But there’s a lot of opportunities we can exploit, lots of things we can take advantage of, keeping in mind the quality of their players as well.”

Circati conceded that some of the upset results at the World Cup so far – headlined by Paraguay, which drew 0-0 with Australia and went on to eliminate Germany – gave the Socceroos cause for both trepidation and optimism.

“In 90 minutes anything can happen,” he said.

“Not only this World Cup’s proved it … any game can prove it, any team can win in just a game of 90 minutes.

“Obviously regarding the performance we did put up against Paraguay, it does give you a bit of self-confidence.”

Circati insisted the Socceroos didn’t need to look to past moments of glory to deliver something special.

A maiden World Cup knockout phase win would be enough.

“I don’t think anyone needs a bit of motivation for these sort of games,” Circati said.

“The motivation is there on an individual level and on a collective level.

“It would be the first knockout game Australia’s ever won, so I don’t think there’s need for any motivation really. It’s a moment to create history, to create something Australia won’t forget as a nation.”

Egypt won its first World Cup match when it defeated New Zealand 3-1 in the group stage, giving Australia a theoretical edge in tournament experience.

Fans will flock to live sites for the match in the early hours of Saturday. Photo: AAP

Australia and Egypt shared the spoils on their last two match each other.

Australia won on penalties after scoreless 90 minutes at the 1987 Presidents Cup, while Egypt took a 3-0 win in an international friendly at Cairo in 2010.

The Australia-Egypt match will be live in SBS from 4am, with live sites and some pubs open across Australia.

Should Australia defeat Egypt, it will play either Argentina or World Cup debutante Cape Verde.