Melbourne-born and bred Irvine, now 24, is in the mix to start in Wednesday night’s decisive World Cup intercontinental play-off against Honduras.

The Hull City midfielder started and played 74 minutes in the first leg in San Pedro Sula as the game finished 0-0.

Irvine has refused to let himself begin pondering World Cup qualification, but he was in a reflective mood when considering Australia’s historic night in 2005.

The former Celtic junior watched on with his mother and a friend in 2005 when the Socceroos defeated Uruguay on penalties to secure World Cup qualification for the first time in 32 years.

“I was at the game in 2005 in the same stadium in a similar scenario in a game where it might come down to that,” Irvine told FourFourTwo.

“I understand from a fan’s point of view of what that night can feel like.

“We’ll be doing everything in our power to recreate that for everyone else, because I’ve been that person in the crowd.

“I know what that feels like. That’s why you play the game. It’s what you do it for.

“That’s the priority, to make sure everyone feels like that night all those years ago.

“Keep people dreaming that we can compete at the highest level which we feel we can.”

Irvine revealed his friend, who attended the 2005 match with him, would be flying from Perth for the Honduras decider.

“We were having a laugh as 12 years later it could be us both back watching us qualify again, but only a bit different,” he said.

“It was an amazing night and that’s the catalyst to make me want to achieve what I hope to in the game.”

If Wednesday’s game concludes in similar circumstances to 2005, Irvine may not be the man to re-produce a John Aloisi moment.

“I don’t even know if I was watching to be honest,” he said.

“I was probably crouching on the ground with my head in my hands. I get so nervous watching penalties.

“Wherever you were watching that game remembers it.

“That’s the kind of moment we have the chance to recreate, where people will remember where they were.”

Irvine’s current club boss, Leonid Slutsky, is a former Russia national team boss who is a native of the country which will host next year’s World Cup.

The Socceroo said he hadn’t chatted with Slutsky about Russia with a view to the World Cup just yet.

“Not at all. I spoke to him briefly after the Confederations Cup, having been in Russia during that time,” Irvine said.

“He’d actually watched a couple of my games, which is part of the reason he signed me!

“We’re fully focused on this game first of all. Obviously it’s a long road ahead after that. We fully believe we’re good enough to get ourselves through the game.”