With Socceroos coach Graham Arnold set to name his 26-man squad for the World Cup on November 8, anticipation is building among the group of players ahead of Qatar.
Daily Mail Australia has broken down who will be on the coveted team sheet, who is in danger and who could be left heartbroken.
goalkeepers
With 75 caps to his name, Mat Ryan will be on the plane to the Middle East.
While he may not be in favor of FC Copenhagen, the 30-year-old is one of Arnold’s favorites and he is also recommended to wear the captain’s armband.
Look to Mitch Langerak to be your deputy, with Andrew ‘Grey Wiggle’ Redmayne as the third-choice goalkeeper.
Mat Ryan is one of manager Graham Arnold’s favourites, and will be the Socceroos’ goalkeeper in Qatar despite being sidelined for his European club.
Andrew Redmayne was the unexpected hero for the Socceroos in their epic World Cup qualifier victory over Peru in June via penalty shootout, but he should be the third goalkeeper.
defenders
Aziz Behich is shaping up to be the first-choice left-back, thanks to his impressive form while representing Scottish side Dundee United.
Joel King is another option, as is the reborn Jason Davidson, who has been one of Eupen’s best players in Belgium.
At right back, it’s a two-way fight between Fran Karacic and Nathaniel Atkinson, with the latter said to be fractionally up front.
The Tasmanian junior will have to overcome an ankle injury, but early diagnosis is promising.
Sydney FC veteran Rhyan Grant and Western United’s Josh Risdon are also under consideration.
Australia’s central defender pairing is likely to be Trent Sainsbury and Harry Souttar, with the towering Stoke City man always a threat from set pieces.
Milos Degenek is expected to be the cover for the injury-plagued but talented pair.
Aziz Behich is shaping up to be the team’s first-choice left back, with Joel King and Jason Davidson as other options.
Midfield
Veteran Aaron Mooy will be named, and Jackson Irvine and Riley McGree will offer steel in the middle of the park.
Given that Tom Rogic has been disappointing at West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, he may have left his national team run too late.
If Ajdin Hrustic can prove he has overcome his ankle injury, he too will be named.
Keanu Baccus is a possible reinforcement given his electric club form in Scotland with St Mirren and Roma sensation Cristian Volpato continues to knock on the door.
He has shown that he can spark off the bench and if it works for José Mourinho, why not Arnold?
It will also ensure that Volpato plays for the Socceroos, not Italy for years to come, if he enters the fray in Qatar.
Martin Boyle has overcome an injury scare and should start in Australia’s opener against France on November 23.
The same cannot be said for Tom Rogic, who has been disappointing after moving into the English Championship with West Bromwich Albion.
When it comes to wingers, Australia is spoiled for choice.
Melbourne City’s Mat Leckie is a selection lock, as is Awer Mabil, despite not favoring Spanish La Liga outfit Cadiz.
Martin Boyle is also set to make the cut after reports that a specialist has given the winger the green light to resume training following his knee injury.
Adelaide’s Craig Goodwin offers depth and Central Coast Mariners star Garang Kuol is an X-factor option alongside Macarthur FC pin-up boy Daniel Arzani.
It’s hard to believe that Arzani was the Socceroos’ next big thing in Russia four years ago, only to see his career stalled by injuries.
He may have done enough to impress the coaching staff after a promising start to the A-League season.
strikers
Tim Cahill, anyone?
Unfortunately for Socceroos fans, the man who scored so many crucial goals over the years for the national team hung up his playing boots in 2018.
Instead, Arnold will look to Jamie Maclaren and Mitchell Duke to get some work done in the final third, with Scottish-born Jason Cummings also in the mix.
Adam Taggart seems to be cursed when it comes to injuries, but he can find the back of the net better than most.
Leckie and Kuol can play up front if Arnold wants to play with two strikers against France, Tunisia and Denmark.