Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has stayed true to his word on giving A-League players an opportunity with the national team, selecting six local-based players in his squad for the upcoming friendly against Paraguay.
While his predecessor Pim Verbeek was a vocal critic of the domestic League during his tenure, Osieck has shown a clear vote of confidence in the A-league with the selection of his 19-man squad for his first match on Australian soil.
World Cup squad members Jason Culina (Gold Coast) and Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide) have not surprisingly been selected but it's names like Michael Thwaite, Matt McKay, Alex Brosque and Jade North that prove the new boss is serious about promoting local talent.
"I said from the very beginning when I came and I heard all the critical voices regarding the A-League that I don't share it," Osieck said on Tuesday.
"The rationale for picking a player is their performance and not which club he plays for."
"Having had the opportunity in the last two weeks to see them play on that level I've been very impressed."
"I thought 'why not include them into the team?', they show a great deal of potential, players like Michael Thwaite and Matt McKay."
"They are excellent players so why not include them into the team."
The squad also includes veteran stars Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer, while Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy return for the first time since the World Cup because of injury.
But experienced midfielders Vince Grella and Mark Bresciano were two of the squad stalwarts left out again.
Following Australia's disappointing World Cup campaign there were a number of question marks over the future of those veteran players but Osieck said none had indicated they were planning to bring an end to their international careers.
"If you look at the players that are there now Harry's not that old, Timmy's not that old although they have a number of games under belt."
"When you are 30 these days in top level football, you have been training professionally for so many years, 30 is nothing."
"If they show a great deal of commitment, which they do right now, then of course they will be part of our team, no question about it."
Blackburn star Brett Emerton is suspended for the Paraguay clash after being sent off in the previous friendly against Poland while Brett Holman misses out due to a calf injury.
Osieck said central defender Matthew Spiranovic, who impressed in the recent friendlies against Switzerland and Poland, would also have been part of the squad if not for a hamstring problem.
"Looking down the road, when we talk of getting in new faces to the team he can definitely be one of the new faces," Osieck said of the Urawa Reds defender.
"He made a promising start. I feel sorry for him because this is another game against a top class opponent where he can show what he can do."
Osieck, who has been travelling the country watching as many A-League games as possible since arriving in Australia two weeks ago, said he had been very impressed with exciting Adelaide winger Matthew Leckie.
But the Socceroos boss opted not to include him in the current squad, preferring to let him play with the Young Socceroos who are trying to qualify for next year's Youth World Cup.
"A player is never too young to be selected," Osieck said when asked if age was a factor.
"Leckie definitely has good potential but right now we have to prioritise and choose where to use him first."
"At the moment it is very important that the Young Socceroos reach the finals."
"It does not help if I were to use him for 10 or 20 minutes because you cannot really judge a performance in such a short time."
Paraguay, who reached the quarter finals in South Africa, are expected to bring most of their World Cup stars for the October 9 match at the SFS.
Socceroos squad:Alex Brosque (Sydney FC), Tim Cahill (Everton), David Carney (Blackpool), Jason Culina (Gold Coast United), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Richard Garcia (Hull City), Mile Jedinak (Genclerbirligi), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough), Jon McKain (Al Nassr), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Jade North (Wellington Phoenix), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Michael Thwaite (Gold Coast United), Carl Valeri (U.S. Sassuolo Calcio), Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow)