Lock: Maty Ryan
Probable: Paul Izzo
Others in the mix: Patrick Beach, Joe Gauci, Lawrence Thomas,Tom Glover
Whether Ryan is the first- or second-choice goalkeeper under coach Tony Popovic, it's hard to see a scenario where the Socceroos captain isn't on the plane. Izzo has built a strong case and, despite some testing moments against Colombia, is all but there. Beach could have leapfrogged Gauci, who started against Japan just over a year ago, as third-choice goalkeeper.
* DEFENDERS
Locks: Alessandro Circati, Cameron Burgess, Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller
Probables: Milos Degenek, Aziz Behich, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Jason Geria
Others in the mix: Jacob Italiano, Kai Trewin, Hayden Matthews, Fran Karacic, Callum Elder, Jack Iredale, Sammy Silvera, Ryan Strain, Thomas Deng, Gianni Stensness
Circati and Burgess have been rocks for Popovic, and Degenek surprised the Socceroos boss before re-establishing himself as a mainstay and should be able to force his way in. Dynamic Bos will be there if fit, while Lewis Miller is at the front of the queue for right-backs. If Souttar can return to playing well after recovering from his achilles injury, he'll be surely drafted right in, while it's hard to see the ever-reliable Behich missing.
MIDFIELDERS:Â
Locks: Jackson Irvine, Aiden O'Neill
Probables: Max Balard, Ajdin Hrustic
Others in the mix: Patrick Yazbek, Paul Okon-Engstler, Cammy Devlin, Ryan Teague. Mathew Leckie, Alex Robertson, Anthony Caceres, Keanu Baccus
Irvine and O'Neill appear the only two midfielders all but guaranteed a spot on the plane. Balard has made a strong case in recent windows, and Hrustic adds class. The younger, greener Okon-Engstler is clearly highly rated, and hard-running Yazbek has often been a regular. If - and it's a big if - Mathew Leckie can get and stay fit, he could yet bolt back into the fray.
ATTACKERS:
Locks: Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree
Probables: Mohamed Toure, Nestory Irankunda
In the mix: Mitch Duke, Adam Taggart, Craig Goodwin, Martin Boyle, Nishan Velupillay, Adrian Segecic, Marco Tilio, Daniel Arzani, Nicholas D'Agostino, Brandon Borrello, Nicolas Milanovic, Al Hassan Toure
Metcalfe's form for the national team has made him almost undroppable, and if fit McGree is a lock. Toure and Irankunda should have also played themselves into contention, and if they maintain consistency should be there too. Duke and Goodwin have somewhat fallen out of favour of late, but should never be written off. And there could still be room for a young gun like Segecic.
11°C