Mile Sterjovski faces a busy couple of weeks with a vital World Cup qualifier on the horizon for Australia - and the impending birth of his second child.

He is currently with the national squad ahead of Friday's friendly with Ghana and a home qualifying clash with Iraq on June 1.

But with the latest addition to the Sterjovski clan due in the first week of June, dad is hoping things will work out to allow him to feature for his country before the birth.

"Hopefully I can get one game in before the baby arrives," Sterjovski told www.footballaustralia.com. "We will see how it works out."

Australia currently sit top of their qualifying group for the 2010 tournament but they have a number of phases to get through before they can reach the finals in South Africa.

Victory against Iraq would but the Socceroos in a strong position to progress but they still face tricky away games against the same opponents and Qatar.

They close at home to China and Sterjovski knows the importance of the Australians picking up points on their own territory.

"It's very important," he admitted.

"If we win that game (Iraq) we will be high on confidence and then I think we need just another win after that to make sure qualification to the next phase is secure.

"The home games are really important because we know the away games are going to be quite difficult."

But he added: "You just never know in this competition.

"Everyone expected Iraq to beat Qatar but Qatar ended up winning 2-0 so you just never know what is going to happen.

"With the squad we have we should be looking at winning these games.

"We have got good depth and a lot of quality players so we shouldn't be worried too much, we should only worry about ourselves and try to get our performance right."

It's also a chance for Sterjovski to impress new national team coach Pim Verbeek.

He is keen to impress the Dutchman and ensure he remains in Verbeek's plans for the remainder of the qualifying period - and beyond.

"I have spoken to him (Pim) a couple of times but it has mainly been about the situation with my family," Sterjovski said.

"I am really looking forward to meeting up with him and having a few sessions with him."

Another baby on the way, an important World Cup qualifier, and just to emphasise the point about a busy time - Sterjovski turns 29 on May 27!

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