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Tony Popovic has already shown he is not afraid to call on A-League Men players in his Socceroos squad and is expected to do so again in his second camp.
With the A-League Men season well and truly under way, local-based players could be in vogue for the Socceroos' World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Coach Tony Popovic will announce the second squad of his tenure at Melbourne's AAMI Park on Friday morning.
Popovic hasn't been afraid to turn to locals early in his tenure.
Melbourne Victory defender Jason Geria is seemingly now a lock, while teammate Nishan Velupillay earned a debut and Aziz Behich (Melbourne City) and Luke Brattan (Macarthur FC) also received call-ups in Popovic's first window.
He could cast the net wider in his second camp in charge, given the domestic competition is now three weeks in.
Popovic has been actively engaging with the ALM since taking up his post and was at both Melbourne Victory's game against Macarthur and Western United's clash with Melbourne City at AAMI Park over the past week.
Sydney FC's hot start to the season could throw classy midfielder Anthony Caceres into the mix.
The 32-year-old is one of the ALM's most prolific players yet to receive a Socceroos cap but has been excellent for several years and has impressed early in the current campaign.
Elsewhere, Saudi-based Craig Goodwin is suspended for the Saudi clash but will surely be selected regardless given his spark and ability from a set piece could be needed to break down Bahrain.
Pleasingly for Popovic, central defender Cam Burgess has started Ipswich Town's past three Premier League games, while Harry Souttar is in fine form for Sheffield United.
There will be at least one forced change - Gianni Stensness is injured.
Ipswich Town's Massimo Luongo is yet to play minutes since the ankle injury that forced him out of his planned return from international retirement while Connor Metcalfe is still sidelined.
The Socceroos play Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park next Thursday in one of the most hotly-anticipated and crucial qualifiers of the current phase.
Australia then heads to Riffa to play Bahrain on Tuesday night local time (Wednesday morning AEDT).
After losing to Bahrain 1-0 at home then drawing with Indonesia 0-0 away, prompting Graham Arnold's resignation, the Socceroos steadied the ship under Popovic with a 3-1 victory over China and a gutsy 1-1 away draw to Japan.
Second-placed Australia are on five points, five points behind group leaders Japan, and sit ahead of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on goal difference.
The top two teams from the six-team group C qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, with the third and fourth-placed teams thrown into another round of qualifying.
