FERNANDINHO EXPECTS TO BEAT ARGENTINA

Brazil star Fernandinho is wary Argentina will be motivated to please their new coach in Melbourne.

Brazil star Fernandinho expects to topple Lionel Messi's under-pressure Argentina in Melbourne but remains wary their struggling opponents will be motivated to please their debuting coach.

The South American powerhouses have ramped up preparations for the latest chapter of their rivalry, to be played at a sold-out MCG on Friday night.

World No.1 Brazil will be without Barcelona superstar Neymar but have brought a host of other big names to Australia in Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho, his teammate and rising star Gabriel Jesus, Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho, Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Silva and Chelsea's David Luiz.

Argentina, meanwhile, have a full complement of players including Messi, after Juventus pair Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala arrived on Wednesday following the weekend's 4-1 UEFA Champions League final loss to Real Madrid.

Yet the world No.2 side are under immense pressure, the two-time World Cup winners' Russia 2018 hopes hanging by a thread.

It's a tough assignment for new coach Jorge Sampaoli who oversees his first match in charge of Argentina against a team that's already qualified for next year's tournament.

The tension has been clear in the secretive way Argentina have conducted themselves, opening training sessions to media for just 15 minutes and closing Wednesday's session completely.

Players have also continued their six-month-long media boycott, led by Messi after a November radio report alleged forward Ezequiel Lavezzi had smoked marijuana after a training session.

To lose to Brazil would be an unenviable scenario for Sampaoli, who replaced the sacked Edgardo Bauza after March's 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Bolivia left Argentina fifth in their group - out of the automatic qualifying zone.

But the Argentine manager boasts an accomplished record, having overseen Chile at the 2014 World Cup and then guiding them to the 2015 Copa America triumph before going on to impress at La Liga club Sevilla.

And Fernandinho predicted his presence would provide added incentive.

"Brazil and Argentina is never a friendly, everybody wants to win and we know how important this is being a classic," Fernandinho said.

"We need to continue in our rhythm, but Argentina has a new coach and he had really good work with Chile and Sevilla. This is more motivation for them.

"To lose would be different for us because we haven't lost under (coach) Tite, but we are prepared if we do.

"Although losing will not be a problem for us in continuing our form, I expect we can win this match."