Coach Holger Osieck's threadbare playing stocks have opened the door for Robert Cornthwaite to return to international football in a youthful Socceroos team against the Korea Republic on Wednesday.
Of the 19 players selected by Osieck for the friendly international, Adam Sarota and Luke Wilkshire did not travel, while Korea-based Matt McKay was also ruled out though an injury picked up at the weekend.
Thus, Korea-based defender Cornthwaite - who has one Socceroo cap to his name - is a late addition to a host of other new faces for the clash in Hwaseong.
"Obviously it's a great feeling to get called up for your national team," said Cornthwaite, a former Adelaide United player who has netted three goals in 28 appearances for K-League club Chunnam Dragons this season.
"I feel like I've got something to offer to the team so I'm looking forward to hopefully getting a bit of game time and showing what I can do."
Many of the Socceroos' new faces didn't arrive into Hwaseong - a small city about 90 minutes from Seoul - until late Monday evening.
Of those, 21-year-old former Adelaide United striker Mathew Leckie endured a taxing 10-hour transit from Frankfurt to Seoul.
But Leckie's enthusiasm was indicative of the positive mood in the Socceroos' young squad.
"We all played this weekend. To come to Korea, it is a little bit tough but that's national team football," said Leckie.
"We all need to adapt to that sort of stuff and that's what a good footballer does.
"I think we're all here to make an impression. I think it's easier as well, coming into a camp with a few other young guys.
"Definitely, I think, it's a good experience for all of us to show ourselves."
Leckie is one of five uncapped squad members in Hwaseong - along with Eli Babalj, Aziz Behich, Tom Rogic and Mat Ryan - and like the others, is a strong chance to wear green and gold at senior level for the first time at the 35,000-seater Hwaseong Stadium.
By the 7pm local time kick off (2100AEDT), Osieck will have had his full complement together for just one full training session, providing onlookers with little insight into the Socceroos' potential starting side.
However, one player almost certain to feature from the opening whistle is midfielder Carl Valeri, who is in line to make his 50th international appearance.
"It's a very important stepping stone, every chance we get to get together, it's important for us to do well," said Valeri, who after debuting in March 2007 has gone on to appear at one World Cup and two Asian Cups.
"There's a lot of new faces here. They've got to put their hand up and be willing to take the next step and the guys that have been in here before have got to keep their performances going."
