Australia have departed their pre-World Cup training camp in Sarasota, Florida to begin their west coast sojourn.
That starts with facing El Tri at the famous Pasadena stadium that hosted the 1994 men's World Cup final, then the women's decider five years later.
It will also form the final audition before coach Tony Popovic picks his squad, due to be submitted to FIFA on June 1.
Popular forward Archie Thompson was among those scrapping for a spot under Guus Hiddink at the 2006 World Cup and can relate to the current group's attempt to impress his old teammate Popovic.
"Every little bit of what you've got can improve and maybe change his mind," Thompson told AAP.
"There's so much pressure in that as it is.
"Even putting on an Australian jersey for World Cup qualifiers, or even just friendlies are always nerve-wracking, because you want to be performing all the time, but this one just has a bit more carrot to it.
"So there's going to be a lot of nervous players out there that are maybe just on the outskirts of it and there's pressure.
"Because sometimes it takes a couple of games before you maybe feel comfortable, or your performances are good, but you've only had one audition and every little pass and every little thing counts.
"I've been there before, it's strenuous."
Thompson is one of Australia's most recognisable footballers but didn't get a minute of game time in 2006 behind the likes of Mark Viduka and John Aloisi.
A knee injury scuppered his hopes in 2010, whereas Thompson was left out by Ange Postecoglou in 2014.
"I can definitely understand the position that those players are in," Thompson said.
"Some might have a little bit more of a foot in the squad than some, but you never know.
"There's always twists and turns in whether he might see something that he didn't see before in those camps, whether it might be football, maybe your mentality because I know that Popa's very strong on that."
Jason Geria, Milos Degenek and Kai Trewin are among those jostling for defensive spots, along with teenager Lucas Herrington.
Forward Nishan Velupillay is a contentious option for some but, like Geria, has always performed in a Socceroos shirt under his old Melbourne Victory boss Popovic.
"He's very loyal to the players that haven't let him down," Thompson said.
Injuries have ruled out Riley McGree, Lewis Miller, Patrick Yazbek, Nicholas D'Agostino and Hayden Matthews while Mitch Duke, Alex Robertson and Anthony Caceres were cut this week.
With Maty Ryan the clear No.1 goalkeeper and Paul Izzo looming as deputy, one of Patrick Beach or Joe Gauci appears likely to miss out.
Aiden O'Neill's fitness after an ankle injury could determine whether Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin makes it.
Mathew Leckie's late season thrust him into contention, like Harry Souttar's return to fitness.
Even new call-up Tete Yengi could bolt from the blue as an option at striker.
"Popa knows or has an idea about the core of what he wants and then obviously it'll be the fringe players and whether they can mould into what he wants - and maybe there's something that he's missing, or at least a backup," Thompson said.
"So it's always so difficult.
"Every training session's intense because you're afraid as it is to make mistakes, but then the mistakes are a little bit more in terms of you have the ambition of going to a World Cup."
SOCCEROOS TRAINING SQUAD
Patrick Beach (GK), Aziz Behich, Brandon Borrello, Jordan Bos, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Cameron Devlin, Joe Gauci (GK), Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Ajdin Hrustic, Nestory Irankunda, Jackson Irvine, Jacob Italiano, Paul Izzo (GK), Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Connor Metcalfe, Paul Okon-Engstler, Aiden O'Neill, Kye Rowles, Mat Ryan (GK), Harry Souttar, Mohamed Toure, Kai Trewin, Nishan Velupillay, Tete Yengi.
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