Kuwait are in Canberra on a training camp at the AIS as they continue their preparations ahead of facing the Socceroos at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on January 9 in the tournament opener.

While the Socceroos will go in as strong favourites in front of a sold-out crowd of 25,000, Kuwait can take heart from being unbeaten in two previous meetings.

The 1-0 upset at Canberra Stadium in 2009 - albeit against a Socceroos team minus their overseas stars - was followed by a draw at home the following year.

Kuwait midfielder Aziz Mashaan knows a difficult challenge awaits, but is also confident his side can rise to the occasion.

"It's totally different to the last match and the Australian team is much stronger than before," Mashaan said.

"Everyone knows we played twice with the Australian team and they never beat us, but I think the pressure will be more on them because it's the opening match and the fans will be behind them.

"We'll have nothing to lose in the opening match and we'll do all the best to get a result."

The 26-year-old has 21 caps for his country and has played professionally in Belgium and in the Czech Republic.

He has spent the past four months playing club football in Kuwait and will be a free agent in January.

But his immediate focus is helping Kuwait navigate through the Socceroos, South Korea (January 13, Canberra Stadium) and Oman (January 17, Newcastle Stadium) to progress to the knockout stages.

"It's a tough group, it's the strongest in the tournament," Mashaan said. "We played South Korea in the last World Cup qualifiers, we drew with them and lost to them in Seoul.

"We know Oman well and we both understand each other. It's going to be really tight to see who goes through."

Kuwait had its most successful period when it won the Asian Cup in 1980.

It also was runner-up in 1976 and made the semi-finals in 1996 and quarter-finals in 2000.

Expectations are much lower this time around for the 124th-ranked nation after it was bounced out in the group stages of the Gulf Cup in November.

Coach Jorvan Vieira - who won the Asian Cup in 2007 with Iraq - was fired after being appointed in August, with Nabil Maaloul from Tunisia taking over on an 18-month contract.

"I think it was the right decision because our last match was terrible, so we had to do something," Mashaan said.

"All the players wanted this chance to show that the last match was a nightmare. We have to prove it on the field in the next match."

Kuwait will remain in Canberra until New Year's Eve before they fly out to the Gold Coast for a practice match with the UAE on January 3.

Oman and Qatar are both arriving in Canberra on Monday to start training camps.

Canberra will host six group games in the Asian Cup and a quarter-final.