Watching Australia's World Cup group rivals Ghana play Egypt in the African Cup final recently, I found myself picturing this team up against the A-league strength Socceroos that played in Kuwait in January.
I could not see in Ghana the woeful Kuwaiti defending that allowed Dean Heffernan to slot in Australia's second goal that night. Unfortunately, I could still see Archie Thompson air-swinging at a cross from the byline and as the Egyptians praised Allah for their winning goal against Ghana, all I could envision was 11 Socceroos camped in the penalty box praying for the match to end.
With Kewell, Grella, Chipperfield, Rhys Williams and David Carney all injured at the moment it's a horror scene that may not be too far away from being realised.
So in an effort to quell my rising panic I have compiled a status list of hopeful overseas based candidates for the Socceroos 'second' team:
Strikers
Scott McDonald: The prospect of sitting on the bench at Celtic waiting for Robbie Keane to twist an ankle would have terminated McDonald's World Cup prospects. His transfer to Middlesbrough was a smart move that keeps his fortunes afloat.
Nikita Rukavytsya: Another striker whose fortunes have been significantly boosted by a mid season move. Ruka's loan from FC Twente to Belgian side Roeselare have seen an increase in game time and goals.
Bruce Djite: Occasionally touted as our best hope for another Mark Viduka, Djite took a loan transfer from Genclerbirligi to Diyarbakirspor in mid January where he's played two matches so far for no return.
Nathan Burns: A loan deal from AEK Athens to Greek Division 2 team AO Kerkyra at the start of the season has proved fruitful for Burns with plenty of game time and goals.
Midfielders
Richard Garcia: Garcia missed out on a large chunk of Hull's season with a knee injury and his since returning to the EPL he became famous as the man who was trodden on by Arsenal's Samir Nasri. He's been spending less time on the field of late but if he can turn that around then game time in the world's best competition should be enough to see him earn a place in South Africa.
Nick Carle: Carle's performance against Kuwait was reflective of zero game time at Crystal Palace and a few weeks ago I would have had his chances on making the World Cup on a par with any other A-League player. Since then however, Crystal Palace have gone into administration and Carle has started the last six games running as the club sheds first team players. Unlucky all season, Carle could now be the luckiest man on this list.
Carl Valeri: Last season Valeri was a walk up starter for the Socceroos games but a protracted contract row with Italian second tier club Grosseto has seen him move to Sassuolo where he has found himself back on the bench.
Dario Vidosic: Vidosic has been lively in his performances for the Socceroos but since Nurnberg's promotion to the Bundesliga's top level he struggled for game time. He returned on loan to Bundesliga 2 with MSV Duisburg in search of more game time but has so far been limited to performances off the bench.
Mile Jedinak: Djite's compatriot and clubmate went on loan from Genclerbirligi to Antalyaspor near the beginning of the Turkish Super League season and the move has proved fruitful with plenty of game time and goals against Kewell's Galatasaray and his own club Genclerbirligi.
James Troisi: The move from Genclerbirligi to Kayserispor last year has not looked so good for Troisi with his game time limited in the Turkish Super League to appearances off the bench, although he did earn a rare start this weekend.
Defenders
Shane Lowry: The young Aston Villa defender who has been capped for Ireland and Australia has had plenty of game time this season although it has mostly been on loan to Championship team Plymouth and now League One side Leeds United.
Patrick Kisnorbo: His Socceroos career resurrection has co-incided with the rise of his club, English third tier Leeds United. Their joint fortunes reached a peak recently knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup but an achilles injury has seen Kisnorbo on the sideline as Leeds were knocked out of the FA Cup by Tottenham and slipped to second on the League One table without him.
Matthew Spiravonic: Like Vidosic, Spira was starved of game time at Nurnberg this season, he is counting on a loan deal to Urawa Reds to improve his chances in the lead up to the World Cup.
Goalkeepers
Adam Federici: Federici served his apprenticeship at under US international Marcus Hahnemann last season and has been Reading's number one goalkeeper all this season. He must be close to being number one behind Schwarzer but with Schwarzer's form we probably (hopefully) won't see too much of him until after the World Cup.
Brad Jones: Jones battled with Ross Turnbull for the number keeper spot at Middlesbrough last season and he has had similar battles this season in the Championship. He's back in the first team at the moment though and that could be enough to see him travel to South Afrika.
