Josh Kennedy admits the upcoming World Cup qualifying ties between Australia and Japan are very tantalising prospects.

The Nagoya Grampus star and his Socceroos teammates will play the Blue Samurai at home on June 12 and in Japan in June next year, ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and the 29-year old is excited about taking on some of the players he knows so well from club football.

"I was quite happy, I always enjoy playing the Japanese national team and apart from that Asian Cup final [in 2011, which Australia lost 1-0 in extra-time], we've had good success over them," said Kennedy.

"So I think over the years it's built up a good rivalry and I think they look forward to it as much as we do."

And Kennedy is also looking forward to setting up a potential Japan-based strike partnership with Shimizu S-Pulse attacker Alex Brosque.

"I think if you look at both myself and Brosquey, we've both definitely improved and gone to the next level, I think, and it gives us a chance to improve our football, in terms of playing regularly, and also technical-wise," he added.

"It'll be good to play alongside Brosquey; he's a smart player and a smart guy also."

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