Despite being selected in squads by every Socceroos coach since Frank Farina the Perth Glory defender has notched up just six caps.

But now he hopes his inclusion in the 19-player squad to take on Korea Republic in a friendly clash on Wednesday will bring up his seventh...and maybe more.

He wants to build on an average of one cap a year since the talented Queenslander first took to the field for the green and gold in a 2005 5-0 demolition of Jamaica.

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has given every indication that Thwaite will get a run when a young Aussie outfit takes on the Koreans at Hwaseong. In a press conference announcing the squad, Osieck singled out the 29-year-old for special praise.

“He’s definitely a good chance to get some playing time, but I don’t know whether it’s going to be from the start,” the German tactician said .

“I’ve always regarded him very highly. He was quite unfortunate in recent call-ups, whenever he was in the group he either got injured, or the player in front of him left a better impression.

“I definitely rate him very much, and it’s good to have him back.”

The admiration is mutual. Thwaite revealed he turned to the Socceroos coach for advice during the turbulent last days of Gold Coast United.

He won’t discuss the detail of those conversations but it is clear he has faith in Osieck’s judgement.

“When I was renegotiating for my new contract after Gold Coast United, I remained in contact with him and he definitely helped me a lot in making decisions,” Thwaite said.

“He’s obviously coached at the highest level – both at the national team and club level – and I just wanted to quiz his mind about which direction I should be taking.

“I just picked his mind about where I should be playing. Obviously it’s a very hard choice to go to a new club, especially the way Gold Coast United ended so it was nice to get some advice.”

Thwaite is an object lesson in the sometimes capricious nature of football, when playing well is not the only indicator of success.

A hellish stint in Romania cruelled his 2006 World Cup ambitions and his return to the A-League before the 2010 World Cup did little to impress former Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek.

With a third World Cup looming perhaps it is a case of third time lucky.

“With the national team and myself it’s been a little bit of bad timing – I missed two world cups probably due to political club reasons,” Thwaite said.

“I think to be successful in the national team and club level you have to have good timing and it hasn’t worked out that way for myself.

“Before the 2006 World Cup I played the lead up games with Guus Hiddink and then I didn’t play pretty much for 12 months in Romania so those type of things – it’s all about timing.

“(And) we all know Pim’s attitude to the A-League."

Thwaite remained on the bench in the qualifier against Saudi Arabia and hasn’t run on to the park for the Socceroos since 2007. But he says he has enjoyed every minute even if there were clearly not as many minutes as he would have liked.

“I think as a 29-year-old you’ve got to take all those experiences on board,” he added. “I’ve always definitely put my hand up for the national team and I’ve felt very comfortable being part of the set-up.

“Holger’s always got his eye on the A-League and I think if you’re performing at the highest level here, why shouldn’t you have a chance?”