BEIRUT (Yonhap News) ― Ahead of the team’s World Cup qualifier against Lebanon, South Korean striker Lee Dong-gook said he will try to score early against the Middle Eastern opponent.

Lee leads the South Korean national team with 30 career international goals and 10 of them have come against Middle Eastern countries.

As the team prepares for the Tuesday showdown in the final Asian qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, head coach Choi Kang-hee has tabbed the 34-year-old as the team’s lone striker.

The kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (local time) and 2:30 a.m. Wednesday in Korea.

Lee, one of the top scorers in the South Korean K League Classic, said the key will be to take an early lead against Lebanon.

“I don’t think the Lebanese players are mentally tough,” Lee said.

“If we play well early, I think they will fall apart easily.”

Lee said he expects Lebanon to crowd its own zone early to prevent an early goal. But if South Korea does get on board first, Lee said the opponents will begin rushing their plays to tie the score, which will open up more space for South Korea in the Lebanese zone.

Lee said poor pitch conditions at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium will also come into play.

“It will be difficult to control the ball on a field like that,” he said. “So we need to stay really focused and try to convert our chances near the goal.”

South Korea, trying to qualify for its eighth consecutive World Cup, is in second place in Group A with 10 points, one point behind Uzbekistan and three ahead of Iran and Qatar.

Lebanon is in last place with four points.

Uzbekistan has played six games and South Korea has played five. Only the top two teams from the group will automatically qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

The third-place team will meet the No. 3 seed from Group B in a playoff, and the winner of that match will move on to face a team from South America in the final international playoff.

Backing Lee Dong-gook on offense will be three midfielders: Lee Keun-ho, Lee Chung-yong and Kim Bo-kyung.

Lee Keun-ho has scored 11 of his 16 international goals against Middle East opponents. Lee Chung-yong and Kim, playing for Bolton Wanderers and Cardiff City, respectively, are crafty players expected to provide scoring opportunities up front.

Lee Chung-yong has five international goals in 44 games, including two goals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

He said he will try to add to his tally when the opportunity presents itself, but added he fully understands his role.

“Creating chances for other players suits me better,” he said.

“I think it’s been a while since I last scored in international play, but I don’t really think much about that.”

Kim Nam-il, a veteran of three World Cups, and national team rookie Lee Myoung-ju will take the field as defensive midfielders.

This will be Kim’s first international appearance since the 2010 World Cup.

The 36-year-old has 97 international matches under his belt, the most on the current team.

Kwak Tae-hwi, the national team captain, and Jung In-hwan will man the defense, and will likely be flanked by fullbacks Kim Chi-woo and Kim Chang-soo.

Jung Sung-ryong will make his 48th start in net for South Korea.

This week’s contest is the first of three World Cup qualifiers for South Korea this month. It will host Uzbekistan in Seoul on June 11 and then Iran in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on June 18 for the finale.