TIM CAHILL has dispelled fears over aggravating the knock he received in the FA Cup final as 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.

Cahill has just completed a campaign in which he made more appearances than 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 the three qualifiers the Socceroos are facing in the next 11 days.

But the Aussies’ 2006 World CUp hero is ready to shake off the hip injury he picked up in Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea at Wembley – and insists he is in the best shape of his career.

"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 on that form 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.