The Socceroos admit the lure of an Ashes soccer battle against England at the World Cup is a huge motivating factor as they prepare to strut the sport's biggest stage.

Should Australia emerge top two in their World Cup group, they face a possible showdown with likely Group C winners England in the second stage of the tournament which starts later this week.

That round of 16 clash could well be the biggest football match of any code in Australia's history.

But while they have to negotiate three group matches successfully as rank outsiders before playing England becomes a reality, the Socceroos have warned not to underestimate how potent the motivation of a clash with Australia's traditional sporting enemy is.

"A game against England would be a great spectacle for the Australian public and for the English - they're still a bit upset about when we won 3-1 a few years ago," midfielder Brett Emerton told AAP.

"All the Aussie boys would love the opportunity to play them once again.

"We would go into the game as probably the underdogs, but it would be a fantastic spectacle.

"I would love that to happen - but what I would love is for that to happen with us finishing first in our group and them finishing second.

"That would be even sweeter."

Last time they met, the Socceroos beat England 3-1 in London in 2003 - though in the ensuing seven years England have built an outstanding team rated one of the World Cup favourites.

Emerton, who is confident a calf problem which has hampered him in recent days won't affect his World Cup, is one of seven players in the Socceroos 23-man squad who play in England.

Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill, who spent a decade playing in England before moving to Turkey's Galatasaray, says tackling superstar striker Wayne Rooney and company would be special for two reasons.

"One, it means we will have got out of the group, we will have had a successful campaign thus far," he said.

"Two, we will be taking on probably the most famous team as far as players and profile goes - a team that everybody wants to play and beat, the team that expects to go to the World Cup and win.

"The old sports rivalry that is Australia-England - it would be an amazing game."

And Neill joked: "If we could take them to penalties we should win because they're renowned for not winning shootouts."

Defender Luke Wilkshire says looking so far ahead is daring to dream, though he admits it would be a stirring showdown if the Socceroos could survive against Germany, Ghana and Serbia in Group D.

"There's a natural rivalry between England and Australia in all sports. Football's one of them," Wilkshire told AAP.

"There'd be a little more of edge than perhaps some of the other teams but we'd be happy to get through the group first.

"Whoever we come across we take it as we come."

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