Striker Hernan Crespo and midfielder Maxi Rodriguez have been ruled out of Argentina's friendly against Australia in Melbourne next week, the Argentina Football Association said in a statement.

Crespo, who has scored 35 goals in 64 appearances, has not regained match fitness after spraining a thigh muscle during the Copa America in Venezuela in July.

Rodriguez, who returned to the side in last month's 2-1 defeat in Norway for the first time since suffering a six-month injury lay off, has a thigh muscle strain.

Central defender Daniel Diaz has also been given permission to miss the game in Melbourne on September 11 because of a personal matter.

The match is coach Alfio Basile's final chance to fine-tune his team before the start of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in October.

Argentina begin their campaign at home to Chile, followed by a match away to Venezuela.

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