* JOEL KING (Sydney FC): An ill-fated move to Denmark has led to the left back falling down the pecking order after going to the World Cup in Qatar. King is expected to miss the first month of the season but he looms as Graham Arnold's next-best option if Aziz Behich or Jordan Bos are sidelined.
* ALOU KUOL (Central Coast Mariners): A transfer to Stuttgart didn't work out as planned and Kuol will be desperate to make his mark after returning to the Mariners. He has big shoes to fill after Jason Cummings' departure for India.
* JAMIE MACLAREN (Melbourne City): Now 30, the new City skipper wasn't taken on the most-recent trip to England. Maclaren has been used sparingly by Arnold in recent years but if the striker can continue his hot form on the home front his ticket to the Asian Cup should be assured.
* BRANDON BORRELLO (Western Sydney Wanderers): Ended a near 18-month Socceroos exile earlier this year when he was recalled off the back of scintillating club form. The forward will have to start this season with a bang if he is to keep his spot in the national team set-up.
* LAWRENCE THOMAS (Western Sydney Wanderers): Has just one cap to his name but kept a league-high 10 cleansheets last season. Faces stiff competition with Adelaide's Joe Gauci to play second fiddle to Mathew Ryan.
* NESTORY IRANKUNDA (Adelaide United): Arnold is no stranger to taking a wildcard to a tournament evidenced by the faith he showed in Garang Kuol. Irankunda was recently a train-on player with the Socceroos and the winger's ability to change games in the dying stages could help him edge his way in.
* DANIEL ARZANI (Melbourne Victory): Could be now or never for the 24-year-old, whose career has taken one bad turn after another since the 2018 World Cup. The no-nonsense style of Victory coach Tony Popovic might bring the best out of him.
* NOAH BOTIC (Western United): The 21-year-old striker has thrived under the guidance of John Aloisi. While it would take an impressive run of form to propel Botic into senior selection he showed last year when he finds top gear he is hard to stop.
* ADAM TAGGART (Perth Glory): Last seen in a Socceroos jersey in 2019, the forward made a mid-season return to Australia and delivered five goals in 13 games.
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