Who: United States vs. Australia What: International Friendly When: Saturday, June 5, 2010; 8:30 a.m. ET Where: Ruimsig Stadium; Roodepoort, South Africa TV: ESPN2

The United States Men's National Team stages their final pre-World Cup warm-up match against fellow qualifier Australia on Saturday in South Africa's Ruimsig Stadium. For the Americans, the fixture simultaneously represents an opportunity for the coaching staff to settle on its starting line up for the opening match against England and to provide players returning from injury with vital game-situation minutes. The Socceroos, who feature the Wayne Rooney-esque Tim Cahill (Tim Howard's teammate at Everton), play a similar style to the Three Lions and will provide a stern test. In the end, the Stars and Stripes will defeat a physical, but less talented Australia side 2-0.

So Altidore's Out...

Jozy Altidore suffered a sprained ankle during training on Wednesday and will undergo a fitness test on Friday to determine his readiness for the friendly. Considering his importance on the squad, it's difficult to see him playing and risking re-injury no matter the result of the test. That leaves Bob Bradley with a vacancy to fill at the striker position and throws the entire attacking portion of the U.S. line up into doubt. Look for Clint Dempsey and Edson Buddle to start at the top to the American formation, with Stuart Holden replacing the Fulham star in midfield. Herculez Gomez and Robbie Findley should also see time, but Buddle's the best target man of the trio and Dempsey can play off the Los Angeles Galaxy striker. (That said, Bradley could opt for Buddle and Finley in the striker roles with Dempsey back in midfield and Gomez coming on as a substitute somewhere between minute 55 and 70.)

And the Back Four Is...

Oguchi Onyewu had a little more than 100 minutes of match action to get his legs under him during the two friendlies last week. He looked rusty against the Czechs but better versus the Crescent Stars. Now, it's time for A.C. Milan's defender to prove he belongs on the pitch against the Three Lions. Containing Cahill, a small player who's nonetheless very strong in the air, would help his case as would battling the muscle-bound Socceroos. Jay DeMerit's a virtual certainly in central defense, while Clarence Goodson could replace either Onyewu or the former Watford captain in the later stages. Steve Cherundolo will start on the right and reprise that role against England, while skipper Carlos Bocanegra mans the opposite fullback position. Depending on fitness, both could come off against Australia.

Australia Regroups...

After lackluster victories against New Zealand and Denmark, Pim Verbeek's side needs a solid performance to bolster their spirits before heading into a tough Group D. They open against a Michael Ballack-less German side, battle Ghana, and then finish with dark-horse Serbia only four days later. (Ironically, the two teams that advance from that foursome meet the first- and second-place finishers from the American's group, meaning these teams could play in the round of 16.) The 'roos rely upon Cahill and Harry Kewell to produce goals (with an assist from wonderfully named striker Josh "Jesus" Kennedy") and turn to Dempsey's club teammate Mark Schwarzer in net. Lucas Neill is their best defender and he'll be tasked with organizing the back line and slowly down the American attack.

Projected U.S. Line Up

----------------------Howard---------------------

Cherundolo--Onyewu--DeMerit--Bocanegra

Holden------Edu------Bradley-------Donovan

-------------Buddle-------Dempsey-------------

Projected Australia Line Up

-----------------Schwarzer-----------------

Wilkshire--Moore--Neill--Chipperfield

-----------Grella----------Culina-----------

------Emerton-----Cahill-----Kewell------

-------------------Kennedy------------------

Goal.com Prediction

United States 2-0 Australia