DEFENCE:

Based on his coaching record, van Marwijk will play four at the back, leaving Aziz Behich (left), Trent Sainsbury, Bailey Wright and Milos Degenek (right) as starters.

Behich’s superb form in Turkey earns him the nod over Alex Gersbach and sight-unseen Brad Smith. Sainsbury’s set-in-stone, while Wright’s form with Championship feel-good story Bristol City means he usurps Matt Jurman.

Degenek’s selection is based as much on desperation as tangible evidence. Although the Socceroo is playing regularly under Postecoglou in Japan, with Ryan McGowan playing as a centreback for Bradford and Josh Risdon and Rhyan Grant’s injury woes, Degenek’s the last man standing.

Ignoring Luke Wilkshere and Michael Zullo due to van Marwijk’s mixed A-League review (“I watched four matches…I saw one good game”), Alex Gersbach and Mark Milligan become backups - Milligan and Wright acting as reserve rightbacks - while Matt Jurman is a more strictly-central reserve.

Smith, Risdon, James Meredith, Rhys Williams, Alex Wilkinson, Aleksandar Susnjar and Callum Elder are others that miss out.

MIDFIELD:

The most clear-cut of the Socceroos positions, Massimo Luongo, Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy, Mile Jedinak, Jackson Irvine and Brett Holman will be van Marwijk’s central options, with Mat Leckie, Robbie Kruse, Andrew Nabbout and Brandon Borrello the widemen.

Van Marwijk will most likely adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation with the Socceroos. While he employed a 4-3-3 effectively with Saudi Arabia, he used the former to guide the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final and it perfectly suits Australia’s talent.

With this in mind, Jedinak and Mooy become holding midfielders, with Mooy pivoting slightly to utilise his creative and controlling abilities. In front of them, Kruse takes the left wing / attacking midfield position, Rogic in the middle and Leckie on the right.

Jackson Irvine and Massimo Luongo – who earn their place due to excellent Championship form this season – are midfield reserves. Brandon Borrello and Andrew Nabbout are the squad’s bolters, due to phenomenal form and their versatility on either flank.  

The number 10 position is the hardest to predict, but essential given Rogic’s injury history. While Daniel Arzani would be a heartwarmer, van Marwijk doesn’t have a strong history of promoting youth, which would be understandable with his short preparation-time.

He also knows Holman very well. The 33-year-old played under van Marwijk at Feyenoord in his early days and against him at N.E.C and AZ Alkmaar, where the Australian greatly impressed.

Van Marwijk also reportedly asked about Holman upon taking the Socceroos job. Combine this with his perfectly-timed return to form and fitness - in addition to Australia’s lack of creative midfielders - and Holman becomes a Steven Bradbury-esque World Cup bolter.

Among the experienced hands, James Troisi, Nikita Rukavytsa, Ben Halloran and James Jeggo don’t make the cut. Meanwhile, bolters Arzani, Chris Ikonomidis, Mustafa Amini, Kenneth Dougall and Riley McGree all miss out, despite playing regularly.