Cahill's determined to show World class.

Byline: NICK SMITH

TIM CAHILL has dispelled fears over aggravating the knock he received in the FA Cup final when he targets glory on the international stage this weekend.

The Everton midfielder is determined to take his place in the Australia side that on Saturday can clinch qualification for next year's World Cup in South Africa on Saturday.

Cahill has just completed a campaign in which he made the more appearances than in any other for the Goodison club since he joined five years ago.

After a broken foot kept him out at the start of the season, he has been a virtual ever-present but with his injury history, Everton will be anxiously hoping he comes through three qualifiers in 11 days.

Cahill, however, is ready to shake off the hip injury he picked up in Saturday's defeat to Chelsea at Wembley - and insisted he is in the best shape of his career.

Everton's "I'm anxious to play in the next game for Australia because I want to qualify for the World Cup," said Cahill. "It was a bang on my hip. It's pretty sore, but you get loads of knocks and just get on with it.

"With the injuries I have had, I have played over 400 games, close to, so I am very happy. I am fully fit, flying, I am feeling in the shape of my life."

Cahill scored nine goals last season, in which he often played as a makeshift lone centre-forward to compensate for David Moyes's crippling injury list.

He is determined to carry that form on into next season and into South Africa next summer, by which time he will be 30, and he is also targeting the next World Cup after that in Brazil.

"Next year I hope to have a bigger season," added Cahill. "I want to play as long as possible. Definitely 35 is a target, and after that we will see. 2014? Most definitely.

"We want to do as well as we can but it's all about qualifying. Everyone is in camp, ready and training for what is such a big game.

"I am quietly confident that we can relive the same experience as before and hopefully go one better."

Cahill Australia, who are unbeaten and have dropped only two points in their Asian qualifying group, can clinch a place against Qatar in the heat of Doha tomorrow.

They then play Bahrain on Tuesday and face closest challengers Japan on June 17. There will be more jet-setting in store for Cahill when he returns for Everton's pre-season next month, with a trip to Canada being negotiated to add to the excursions to Ghana and the USA.

Moyes's men are reported to be in negotiations to play a high profile fixture at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada on July 25.

No opponents have been confirmed, but reports in Canada suggest that South American giants River Plate have been pencilled in.

"This is a huge achievement for us," said Fred Kern, president of the Alberta Soccer Association. "I''m more than excited. This is like having dessert. Everton are one of the best teams in the world."

CAPTION(S):

Everton's Tim Cahill Former Blues boss Howard Kendall (far left) appears impressed by the new Everton home kit; and (above) striker Louis Saha models the strip