Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler is on course to be named as Germany's number one goalkeeper for the World Cup.

Germany's goalkeeper coach Andreas Kopke today announced that Adler will be standing between the posts for the friendly international against Argentina in Munich on Wednesday, a clear indication that he is the man he and national team coach Joachim Low plan to rely on in South Africa.

"Rene currently has his nose in front in the race to be number one," admitted Kopke.

"He has been excellent in the games he has played for the national team, therefore we knew that Rene would play against Argentina."

Nevertheless, the race to succeed Jens Lehmann, who kept goal at Euro 2008, is not yet over.

Not only do Kopke and Low expect their faith in him to be repaid next Wednesday, they will be keeping a close look at Adler and his rivals Manuel Neuer of Schalke and Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese during the remainder of the Bundesliga.

However, should Adler miss out for Germany's first World Cup group fixture against Australia on June 13, it will be his own fault.

"Rene is our number one at the moment," confirmed Kopke.

"He has got to keep on performing and steer clear of injury, so in that respect, it is all in his own hands whether he is number one at the World Cup or not."

Both Adler and Neuer have made embarrassing mistakes for their teams in the Bundesliga lately, indicating that the pressure of an open battle to be number one may indeed be getting to them.

That pressure is only going to increase between now and June, though, despite Adler's current advantage and he cannot wait to prove himself, starting next Wednesday.

"I am delighted to be nominated," he said. "This is a very attractive game for us.

"It's great to be able to measure yourselves with the best players in the World."

Neuer will be on the bench at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday since Wiese has been forced to pull out of the squad due to injury, however Kopke ruled out a fourth goalkeeper coming into the frame at this stage of World Cup preparations.

"We are convinced with the goalkeepers we have," he said. "We have the utmost confidence in our three goalkeepers, in particularly Rene.

"There is no reason to start speculating about any other goalkeeper now."

Wednesday's friendly will not only be the chance for Adler to confirm his reputation as Germany's best goalkeeper, but Stuttgart striker Cacau may be given the chance to steal in between the out-of-form Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose to earn his place in the attack alongside Mario Gomez.

The 28-year-old has scored seven goals in his last three games and Wednesday's game would be a particularly big occasion for him.

"Being born in Brazil, games against Argentina are always special for me," he said.

By comparison, Podolski and Klose have both scored only one goal all season while Podolski has not found the back of the net in 1390 minutes.

Klose's last goal came in Bayern's Champions League win over Fiorentina, although it should have been ruled out since he was two yards offside.

Youngsters Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller may make their debuts for Germany on Wednesday as Low takes a look at all of his options for the last time before naming his preliminary World Cup squad in May.