Of the five possible debutants to grace the field against Iraq in one week's time, comparatively little has been written about Sydney FC's star right back Rhyan Grant.

Grant, 26, is the second oldest of the five, and perhaps on the surface, the least noteworthy.

Overshadowing him has been Mustafa Amini, the former Borussia Dortmund starlet who's been regularly tipped as a potential talisman for a new Socceroos golden generation.

Then Riley McGree, the 18-year-old with only nine starts for Adelaide United, who is already burning an impression onto all those who watch him. Or James Jeggo, who's one of a stark few Socceroos to be playing regularly in Europe.

Even Grant's teammate Danny Vukovic boasts a heart-warming story of overcoming adversity and defying odds to get a chance at a first Socceroos appearance at the grand old age of 31.

But what about Grant? For the most part overlooked, the attacking fullback has belied his unglamorous position to become one of the centrepieces in Sydney FC's relentless push towards the A-League title this season.

A technically adept player, with speed and an engine that seems to run on exhilaration alone, Grant arguably has the best chance of all five possible debutants to pull on the gold and, erm, gold against Iraq next week.

It's a sentiment echoed by Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold.

"(Grant) can run all day, he's quick, he's aggressive and he's improving out of sight," Arnold said.

The more experienced Aziz Behich presents the major obstacle between Grant and a maiden Socceroo cap.

But Ange Postecoglou clearly knows what he gets with Behich, and the Australian coach has largely ignored the Turkish based defender during his time at the helm.

This leaves utility Mark Milligan and Milos Degenek the other conventional options, yet neither is a fullback by trade - nor do they offer the speed and attacking mentality of Grant.

For these reasons, Grant's inclusion at some stage appears a near-certainty, if only out of Postecoglou's desperate search for options in his position.

The Socceroos coach has chosen to fearlessly tread into the unknown not knowing, scrapping the experience of Matt Mckay and Nathan Burns in favour of a fresh-faced Socceroos squad for the crucial next two qualifiers.

They're difficult games, spaced just five days apart. Australia may well have to win them both to secure their spot in Russia, without enduring another hard-fought round of qualification.

Postecoglou has routinely shown tremendous faith in the depth he has at his disposal, Grant the pick of five uncapped players in his 23-man squad, among a host of others who haven't featured in qualification so far.

But no other Socceroo comes into contention representing a club that comes close to mirroring Sydney FC's league dominance this season. It's a feat that's hard to match, but it's in no small part due to Grant's phenomenal contributions.

A veteran of 135 A-League appearances while still just 26 - an impressive commendation in itself - Grant has edged past fellow Socceroos contenders Tarek Elrich and Josh Risdon to become the competition's in-form fullback.

Those 135 appearances may prove crucial.

Despite a characteristic willingness to take risks, Iraq and the UAE present two exceptionally important games for Postecoglou. Should Ange trial a bolter, they don't arrive much better prepared than Grant.

The fact both fullback positions have become sore points for Ange, with Alex Gersbach not playing regular football due to Norway's season break, gives the Sky-Blue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lay his claim for the Socceroos jersey.

Which is why it's surprising that more hasn't been written about the young man from Canowindra. If it wasn't for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament two years ago, he probably would have featured sooner.

He's been a remarkable pillar of consistency in a Sydney FC team that's had its fair share of player turnover during Grant's nine-year spell at the club.

Now he has a chance to show he can play consistently at a much higher level, but it's an excellent chance to say the least.

While he may lack the European allure of Jeggo, the golden boy image of McGree, the gratifying backstory of Vukovic or the vibrant red-Afro of Amini, Grant has all the qualities that Postecoglou favours most - in a position that nobody else seems to favour at all.

If he adopts the same attacking mentality, tenacity and strong distribution he's shown for Sydney this season, he has a better chance of maiden Socceroo glory than anyone.

In his corner, former Socceroos coach Arnold certainly believes Grant's got what it takes.

"Once you get to international level it's about the four pillars – technical, tactical, physical and mental," Arnold said.

"A lot of it's about athleticism and he has that. He can run all day, he's quick, aggressive and improving out of sight.

"He fits the model, but now it's about the concentration for 90 minutes and stepping up to a new level."

There won't be a neutral that says he doesn't deserve it.

Australia face Iraq in Tehran on March 23, before battling against United Arab Emirates in Sydney on March 28.