Vukovic had a good season for Central Coast Mariners and along with Eugene Galekovic and Clint Bolton, came into the frame as a potential A-League bolter for the third goalkeeping slot.

But Vukovic never expected the call to come from Verbeek. So it was hardly a case of being gutted when the coach named his initial 31-strong squad on Tuesday.

"I knew I wouldn't get named; it would have been nice but maybe in four years time I might be a better chance," Vukovic told the Express Advocate.

Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federici and Brad Jones will be the goalkeepers on the plane to South Africa with Galekovic to travel as emergency custodian.

Vukovic added: "There was no surprises with the goalkeepers picked, they all deserve to be there."