Australia might be into the Asian Cup quarter-finals, but coach Holger Osieck admits it needs to step up another gear if it wants to go any further.

The Socceroos booked their second consecutive last eight spot at the continental showcase with Mile Jedinak's first-half strike enough to beat a dangerous Bahrain 1-0 at a rain-lashed Al-Sadd Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The strapping Turkish-based midfielder scored the team's equalizer in its 1-1 draw with Republic of Korea (ROK) on Friday and was its hero again, getting the decisive goal in the 37th minute.

Australia only needed a point to qualify and, despite the ROK beating India 4-1, it finished top of Group C on goal difference to avoid heavyweight Iran in the last eight. Instead, it plays the second-placed team from Group D, which will most likely be reigning champion Iraq.

While pleased to be through, Osieck said he wanted more from his team.

"Yes it was three points, but I'm not sure about it being a decisive win. It was a very tough game and they gave us a hard time. My team had to really fight to the end," said the German.

"Regarding the quarter-final, I can guarantee you that it's going to be a different game, you are going to see a different Australian team."

At the last tournament, in 2007, Australia's first since defecting to the Asian Football Confederation from Oceania, it crashed out on penalties to Japan, having also lost in the group stage to Iraq.

While the holder is Australia's most likely next opponent, World Cup participant Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates are also still in with a shout in Group D, albeit an outside one.

Osieck refused to be drawn on who he preferred to face.

"They are all good in Group D. Whichever one you play, it will be a strong test for us," he said.

"It doesn't matter who we play. There's a great deal of quality in that group, it's a well-balanced group and we have to be ready. We have to play our own game so it doesn't really matter which of the teams we face."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 01/20/2011 page24)