Irvine played seven of Australia’s third round 2018 World Cup qualifiers but didn’t get any minutes in either leg of the crucial play-off against Syria.

However, the Hull City midfielder may get a reprieve with Milligan suspended for the first leg away to Honduras, while skipper Mile Jedinak is still yet to get the green light despite returning to competitive action at club level on Sunday.

Coach Ange Postecoglou will recall Irvine’s outstanding performance against Chile at the Confederations Cup when evaluating his holding midfielder options.

Irvine started in the following fixture, a crucial 2-0 loss to Japan and has lost his place since.

Irvine was outstanding against Alexis Sanchez & Chile at the Confederations Cup

The 24-year-old told FourFourTwo he thrived on the big stage and was keen to make a more significant contribution.

“Absolutely, I love playing in the high pressure games,” Irvine told FourFourTwo.

“Obviously they’re difficult and they come with a different set of challenges but every player comes into these camps wanting to be there to contribute.

“From a personal point of view, to be involved in these two games would be amazing. More importantly it’s about everyone as an unit and contributing.”

Irvine insisted the current Socceroos group would relish the pressure of the occasion.

“It’s another mountain to climb but it’s nothing we haven’t had to deal with over the last couple of years throughout this process,” he said.

“This pressure is what we thrive on. We’ve produced some of our best performance sunder this type of pressure.”

Jackson Irvine addresses the media

Irvine is enjoying a new sort of pressure at club level, following his August move from Burton Albion to Hull City, who were relegated from the Premier League last term.

The expectations associated with the two clubs, both in the Championship, are drastically different, with Burton content to avoid relegation, while Hull are eager to return to the top flight.

It’s a type of pressure that the ex-Celtic and Ross County man hopes will hold him in good stead for international duty, but also long-term in his career.

“I’ve taken some gambles with some of the moves in my career and I’m very thankful to those clubs,” Irvine said.

“I’ve been living the underdog story over the past few years with Ross County and Burton which is great for me, but to be somewhere where you’re expected to get results every week, that change of mentality has been great to be around.

“This is exactly where I want to be. I want to be at a club that has ambitions for the Premier League.

“That’s was the reason I came here. I’ve signed for three years, with the option for a fourth year. During that time there will be an expectation for us to find our way back to the Premier League.”

Irvine enjoyed a stunning 2016-17 season at Burton

Irvine was Burton’s top scorer and Player of the Season last term but has been in and out of the Tigers side since his switch.

The Melbourne-born talent has made three starts and three appearances off the bench - although international call-ups haven’t offered him much time to settle - but is steadfast that he’s made the right move.

“It’s a tough one, people want you to progress and play at a higher level but when you go to a higher level, it’s more difficult,” Irvine said.

“People will say maybe it wasn’t a sensible move considering you’re not playing, but this is definitely a long-term move for me and it’s not like I haven’t played at all.

“I’ve played six games since I came here. It’s all about improving on the day-to-day and hopefully when I get the opportunity for a start, grab it with both hands and give the manager no option but to play me.”

Hull’s 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday morning, where Irvine put in a full shift in midfield, left the Tigers sitting 17th.

Irvine remains confident promotion is still a possibility, pointing out his side are only seven points off the play-offs spots with more than 30 games to play.

“This club has gone through a massive transition in the last six months, getting relegated, losing a lot of the core of that team, the manager Marco Silva went to Watford, so we’ve got a manager whose first time in the Championship,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of new players. I think we signed 13 players during the transfer window. There’s a lot of big things to come together.

“Everyone knows it’s a long season in the Championship, so it only takes a good run of form to fly up the table.

“It’s a brutal old league. As long as we keep in touch, once it all clicks hopefully it’ll see us move up towards the top group.”

Hull are away to third-placed Sheffield United on Saturday, before Irvine flies to Honduras for Socceroos duty.