Josh Risdon will be the only A-League player on the park for the Socceroos on Saturday but he is still harbouring ambitions of playing overseas.
The West Australian has plied his trade domestically since 2010 and is a certain selection in new coach Graham Arnold's starting side to play South Korea in a Brisbane friendly this weekend.
The Western Sydney defender admits the move from Perth Glory last year worked in his favour, but he hasn't given up on a career abroad.
Thomas Deng (Melbourne Victory), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), and Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets) are in the train-on squad pushing for a berth against Lebanon in Sydney next Tuesday.
But the only A-League inclusion in the 23-man squad for Saturday, Risdon will fly the domestic flag at Suncorp Stadium where he is expected to start at right back.
The 26-year-old said his inclusion meant the A-League remained a viable pathway to the green and gold, but that he maintained aspirations to join his national teammates abroad.
"I was looking to go overseas (when leaving the Glory) but nothing eventuated and at the time I'd fallen out of the national team," he said.
"It was a goal of mine to go to Wanderers, be a part of national team and a World Cup then get a move overseas after that.
"It was a move that paid off and hopefully after another good season with Wanderers and the national team something might happen at the end of the season."
Risdon said Arnold's attacking instinct had already rubbed off on the side as they eye an Asian Cup defence in January.
They will be put on notice this weekend though, against a side that upset Germany 2-0 in this year's World Cup and took Australia to overtime in the 2015 Asian Cup final.
"We're coming in as champions so there's going to be a lot of expectation," Risdon said.
"It'll be a hard test; they're a great side, did well in Russia and have great players who play in the top leagues in Europe."
Australian Associated Press
