The Fulham defender's immediate focus is the Olyroos but once the games are over, he will return to Craven Cottage with a steely determination to break into Roy Hodgson's side.

Leijer has spent the last year looking and learning but now he wants action.

Speaking to au.fourfourtwo.com after Olyroo training today, the former Melbourne Victory man said: "Fulham understand how international football is for any player developing.

"I see it as a pretty important period of my football career and the Olympics has been a dream of mine for a long time.

"It's all about patience. You can't really expect to go from the A-League to the Premier League and start straight away. I've a lot of areas of my game I need to improve on still.

"I've had that year of understanding though of what goes on in Europe. I'm pretty determined to go back this year and put up a fight and try and get some game time.

"They (Fulham) were quite positive at the end of the year but at the moment it's all words. I have to go back and really show how much I want it. I've had that year to settle in and now it's time to get down to business."

As for the Olympics, Leijer accepts there is a tough battle on for starting jumpers in Graham Arnold's backline.

He said: "We'll be fighting for a spot until that first game and then you support whoever gets the shirt. Competition is a good thing."

Beijing marks the end of a long road for many of the Olyroos and Leijer feels there is a lot to be satisfied about.

He said: "We've had a massive improvement (from the start of qualifying). You look back to the first camp at the AIS in Canberra. From then to now, not only ndividally but as a team we've come a long way and this next month hopefully in Beijing we can see a good performance."

New Zealand Under 23s provide the opposition on Saturday and Leijer is predicting a bit of spice.

He said: "The trans-Tasman rivalry has been there forever I suppose. This is preparation for the Olympics and we're treating this as a pretty important match."