To see today's training session...

The Brisbane Roar youngster is part of the Young Socceroos squad heading for an Under 20 World Cup warm-up tournament this week.

He will then return home and push for a regular starting slot with Frank Farina's side with the youngster set for a selection battle with the likes of Charlie Miller.

Nichols enjoyed a light training session with his Young Socceroos colleagues at Leichhardt Oval this morning as the players wrapped up their preparations for the Copa Ciudad de Rosario in Argentina.

Coach Jan Versleijen picked him out as a player he had been particularly happy with and Nichols admits life feels pretty good.

Looking ahead to the Argentina trip, Nichols told au.fourfourtwo.com: "It was a pretty light session today to prepare the boys for the trip ahead. I think it's very important. We're playing against some high quality teams and we're going to see where we're at compared with them and how much we've got to improve to be at their level.

"Hopefully we do well and come back with some confidence for the World Cup."

The coach has stressed the importance of players playing regular first team football and Nichols said: "If everyone is playing week in and week out, or at least in the squad, it's good for the Under 20s. People have got a lot more confidence playing at a higher level.  

"I think I've come on leaps and bounds with my international career and that's also helped me with my club career. I really wasn't playing at the Roar and then I went away with the under 20s, I was doing well and the gaffer could see that. He gave me a shot and it worked out from there.  

"If you perform well (for Australia) you come back to your club with confidence."

At club level, Nicholas has been part of a Roar side that hasn't enjoyed the best of pre-season campaigns so far.

However, the youngster isn't too concerned and is confident the results will be there when the A-League kicks off next month.

He added: "Our results haven't been the best but the effort has been there. I think the gaffer would be more worried if the effort wasn't there. We should be right by the start of the season.   Hopefully you have 23 players fighting for every position.

"In my case I'll be pushing Charlie (Miller) and he'll be pushing me."

Roar have seen the Queensland football headlines dominated by new boys Gold Coast United in pre-season. Again, Nichols is not concerned.

He added: "We prefer that. Gold Coast have come in and tried to take all the headlines and get some publicity. It doesn't bother us. We are not worried by what goes on elsewhere. We focus on ourselves.  

"Mind you, even though I'm from the Gold Coast, it'll still be good to get one over them. It's good for the league to have a derby and the rivalry."

To see today's training session...