Former Socceroos coach Frank Arok has identified the area where the Australian national team can defeat Serbia in the group stage of this year's World Cup in South Africa. The Serbian-born former player and coach believes the strong Serbian defence will struggle against pace in Australia's attacking third and says the best way to get past them will be to spread them out and find holes.

Arok admitted Serbia's key defenders, Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, will be tough to break down but if the Socceroos are willing to play ugly, they can get the job done.

''It will be decided by corner kicks and free kicks,'' he said. ''If I was the Australian coach I would put them under pressure, maybe play two small, quick, guys up front and spread it out, because the big guys at the back for Serbia don't like that.

''The big danger for Australia will be the two guys [Vidic and Ivanovic] who play in England. They don't have good strikers, but these guys are so dominant in the penalty area. They'll come up for corners and free kicks, and they are so dominant in the air. It's going to be a close game, but an ugly game, and one free kick can decide everything.''

Arok also suggested the Australians put plenty of pressure on goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, who he believes is not very 'safe'.

''The goalkeeper didn't play more than 20 games [at club level] in the last two years. He's not safe, he's not good, and I would put a lot of pressure on him," he added.