Australia coach Guus Hiddink does not believe there is any chance of Italy underestimating the Socceroos in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

Hiddink was famously responsible for dumping the Italians out of the last World Cup when his unfancied South Korea side recorded one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history in the first knockout round.

Now Hiddink is looking to engineer a repeat performance after guiding Australia beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.

But the wily Dutch coach, who will take charge of Russia once the tournament is over, knows the Italians will not be as easy to dispose of a second time.

"Italy underestimated South Korea that night," he recalled.

"After what they have seen of Australia in this competition, I do not believe there is any chance they will underestimate a team of mine again."

Having given a good account of themselves in an unlucky group stage defeat to Brazil, Australia have no reason to be fearful of the three-times winners.

However, Hiddink has cautioned against growing optimism around the Australian camp.

The former PSV Eindhoven coach who, at one stage was touted to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson as England boss, is adamant Italy are strong favourites and feels their notoriously mean defence will be tougher to break down than the Brazilians.

"We had a few opportunities against Brazil," he said.

"Their goalkeeper had to make a couple of good saves.

"Italy are more experienced in their defensive play and I do not imagine they will give us the same number of chances."

Australia will be without suspended full-back Brett Emerton but Italy, appearing for the first time since Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio were charged in the match-fixing scandal which has rocked Serie A, are also missing a key man in Daniele Del Rossi, who serves the second game of a four-match ban.

While the Socceroos have exceeded all pre-tournament expectations with their battling displays so far, Italy are out to make up for their abject failure at the last two major competitions.

The Italians suffered a humiliating group stage exit at the last European Championships but, under Marcello Lippi are now starting to find more effective form once more.

"We have worked hard in the past two years," said key midfielder Francesco Totti.

"We have always been one of the favourites to win the tournament and we definitely have the strength to go all the way."