The only Omani to have played in the English Premier League, the appearance of Al-Habsi is a massive boost ahead of his side's opening game of the tournament against heavyweights South Korea at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

The 33-year-old was restricted to light jogging at the team's training session at McKellar Park on Tuesday, but simply being around the group will add plenty of confidence to the 93rd-ranked side.

The veteran of 92 internationals arrived in Australia on Monday after completing his commitments with EPL club Wigan.

Al-Habsi is one of the few Middle Eastern players to have success in the English top flight, having joined Wigan in 2011 on a reported £4 million transfer fee from Bolton Wanderers.

He has struggled for game time this season, and spent December on loan with Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion.

Oman Football Association technical director Jim Selby said he expected Al-Habsi to be ready for the opening game once he found his feet after recovering from jet lag.

"Anyone who's just got off the plane after a 25 or 26-hour flight (is going to be tired), that's how he looks at the moment," Selby said.

"He's played at the highest level so it's important people continue to play at the highest level they can the closer you come to the tournament.

"He's been with the national team for so many years now. It's not like he's been introduced into the team as a player who's never been there before. I don't think it's an issue."

Al-Habsi's big-game experience and guidance will be crucial for an Oman team which is aiming to emerge from a difficult group featuring the Socceroos, South Korea and Kuwait.

South Korea completed its first training session in Canberra at Deakin Stadium on Tuesday night.

While South Korea and the Socceroos are the favoured teams from group A to qualify for the quarter-finals, midfielder Nam Tae-Hee said the side was only concerned about beginning strongly against Oman.

"There's no easy opponent in the Asian Cup," Tae-Hee said.

"It's my second time playing against Oman after playing them in the Olympic Games, and there's a lot of fast players in the Oman team.

"I know the Australia team is probably the toughest opponent in the group stage, but for now we'll just focus on the first game."

Tae-Hee plays his club football with Lekhiwiya in Qatar and isn't fazed by the hot conditions in the national capital.

"Physically I'm a little bit struggling with the time lag and the weather, but I'll get used to it," Tae-Hee said.