Coach Guus Hiddink has decided against risking Kewell, whose preparation was affected by a groin injury, in his starting 11 against Japan in Kaiserslautern in south-west Germany tonight.
Instead he is hoping the Liverpool star and giant striker Josh Kennedy can make impact as substitutes in Australia's opening match at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.
Swiss-based attacker Mile Sterjovski is tipped to start in Kewell's place after performing solidly in the Socceroos' 1-0 friendly match against Greece and doing little wrong in two subsequent appearances.
The stakes for the match have been raised by an astonishing outburst by Japanese Football Federation chief executive Saburo Kawabuchi, who called Australia a "dirty" team as the fallout continued from the bruising 1-1 friendly draw with Holland the previous week.
"Australia are guilty of a lot of dirty fouls," Kawabuchi told Japanese sports magazine Japanese Sport Daily Hochi. "They target ankles in particular. Japan must stand up to them."
Their playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura also bought into the argument, saying Japan hopes to be able to draw fouls around the edge of the box because of the Socceroos' penchant for getting stuck in.
Angry Hiddink denies slurs
But angry Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink described the Japanese comments as "irresponsible behaviour" and believes the furore arising from Australia's style of play is designed to influence referees.
"That's ridiculous," an angry Hiddink said of the comments. I am getting very angry when people are suggesting this.
"We have a good team, they like to fight in a game, and when people come out with this (these comments) ... it is irresponsible behaviour."
Players admitted they were beginning to feel the nerves as the game approached.
"It's starting to kick in a little bit now - we watched the opening game (Germany v Costa Rica) together and it's starting to sink in," defender Scott Chipperfield said.
"Monday is when it's going to really hit home that we're in the World Cup. It's going to be pretty emotional when the national anthem is played. We're going to be pretty pumped up and ready to go."
Australia has not played at a World Cup finals since 1974 and has never won a game nor scored a goal on the sport's biggest world stage.
Their final training session at the match venue was closed for all but the first 30 minutes, with Hiddink doling out the coveted yellow bibs to his starting 11 for match simulation in private.
But it is believed 10 of the starting 11 against Holland in last week's 1-1 draw - with the exception of red-carded Luke Wilkshire - will play.
Sterjovski will keep his spot, while Tim Cahill, who didn't start against the Dutch but scored as a substitute, is expected to play ahead of Josip Skoko in the other disputed position.