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Socceroos star David Carney fears a second yellow card against Japan next week could cause the World Cup selection axe to fall.
Finalist nations in South Africa next year are guaranteed only three group matches.
Competition for places in the triumphant Socceroo squad is so hot that Carney believes if a player is suspended for one of those three games it could tip the selection scales against him.
The left-back, a surprise goal scorer in Wednesday night’s 2-0 defeat of Bahrain in Sydney, plans to discuss the problem with coach Pim Verbeek before Australia attempts to complete an unbeaten eight-match qualifying phase against Japan at the MCG.
Carney is one of eight Socceroos sitting on one yellow card.
The others are Chris Coyne, Brett Holman, Michael Jedinak, Mark Bresciano, Scott Chipperfield, Carl Valeri and Brett Emerton, though for various reasons not all will be involved in Wednesday’s match in Melbourne.
Yellow cards do not carry over into the World Cup finals, but suspensions do.
That was what prompted captain Lucas Neill to deliberately foul himself out of the Bahrain encounter so he could face Japan with a clean slate.
With Australia and Japan already qualified for the 2010 finals, suspension of players from either team would have a worse effect in practical terms than losing the match.
The players may not like the rule, but they can do nothing about it.
“I want to play against Japan, but I don’t want to miss out on the World Cup,” said Carney.
“Another yellow would be the worst possible outcome, because you might even struggle to get selected (for South Africa) if you do miss the first game.
“I’m not the type to get a yellow, but knowing my luck I’ll end up getting it.”
Asked if the thought of another booking might prey on his mind, Carney replied: “Yeah, definitely. The World Cup is the ultimate, so to get a yellow would absolutely kill me.
“When there is so much at stake, it’s easy to think about it. It’s not just any other game.
“I’m going to have to sit down with Pim and have a word, but I definitely want to play.”
Carney has another pressing problem on his mind – he is out of favour with his manager at Sheffield United, and knows he will need regular game time over the coming year to get the nod from Verbeek for South Africa.
“I will have to move on, I think,” said Carney, who still has a year of his contract left at Sheffield.
“A few clubs want me. I might have to go abroad.
“I have to get somewhere where the coach backs me.
“All the boys think I should be playing, but I just don’t seem to fit into (the manager’s) plans.
“I think every player goes through it with coaches.”
“I seem to do all right with the Socceroos when I’m half fit, so I’d like to see how I would go fully fit.”
Carney ruled out any immediate return to the A-League, saying: “I’m only 25 so I think I still have a few years left overseas.”
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