LONDON (AFP) -- Australia are out to prove they have lost none of their World Cup fire by putting Denmark to the sword in a friendly clash in exile here today.

Australia feel they have truly launched themselves onto the world stage with their feisty performances in the Germany 2006 tournament, and secured a fanatical following back home, where football has long been overshadowed by Australian football, cricket and the two rugby codes.

Coach Graham Arnold is determined to keep their new fans on board with a strong showing in the 2000 GMT today match at English Championship side Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road ground in west London, home to thousands of Australian expats.

"We don't take friendly games as friendly," Arnold insisted Monday.

"We will give them a good hit-out. The attitude of our players is always to go out and win.

"Denmark are a very good side with very good players. It's a challenge for us to play against quality opposition like that and test ourselves.

"We're very excited about the game. I'll put out a good side with some new, younger players in. "I always send our team out attacking. With players of the caliber of Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill and John Aloisi, our best form of defense is attack, so why put the handbrake on them?"

Australia proved they were no backwater whipping boys at the World Cup where they lost 1-0 in the second round to eventual winners Italy -- due to a controversial last-ditch penalty.

"The interest back in Australia is phenomenal," Arnold said. "What we achieved in the World Cup, the injection that it's done for the sport has just been incredible. Football in Australia has never been so popular."

World Cup captain Viduka added: "We've captured the hearts of the Australian public.

"Before the World Cup, I don't think many fans who followed football knew what it was all about. Australians like the fact that we can represent our country on the biggest stage in the world," he said, unlike less internationally popular sports followed in Australia.

Denmark are 23rd in the world rankings, while Australia are 39th.

For the Danes, the match is a tune-up before visiting Spain on March 24 for a key European Championship qualifying Group F match.

But for the Socceroos, the game is part of their preparations for the Asian Cup finals in July -- at which Australia intend to stamp their dominance on the continent since quitting the Oceania Football Confederation last year.

Middlesbrough striker Viduka is uncertain to feature against Denmark, due to a calf problem sustained in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal.

"We will wait and see. With this type of injuries, you need a few days," he said.

Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Michael Beauchamp and Luke Wilkshire are all out injured while Jason Culina and Mark Bresciano are absent as their partners are about to give birth.

Australia have used London as a base in recent years to prevent their Europe-based top players from having to travel halfway round the world for a friendly.

"We don't want to kill these blokes, that's why we bring the games to them," said Arnold. "We also don't want to jeopardize (thus) their club careers because it's important for us for them to be playing."

Viduka added: "People realize the difficulty in us going back to Australia. "It's a long way to travel for us and for any team that wants to play against us -- what team's going to go out to Australia in the middle of the season? "It's just impossible to play a game there."