Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has confirmed he will name an all A-League squad for the opening Asia Cup qualifier in late January. The Socceroos take on Indonesia in Jakarta on January 28 in the first of the 2011 Asian Cup qualifying rounds and Verbeek will use homegrown talent in what promises to be a hostile environment.
A somewhat more important test faces the Aussies a fortnight later when they take on Japan in 2010 World Cup qualifying so it is seen as a good move to rest the regular and experienced international players for Yokohama on February 11.
"The A-League players deserve it -- I just want to see them in a big international game," Verbeek told Fox Sports News yesterday.
"Playing in front of a 90,000-strong hostile crowd is very different to playing domestically.
"It's not about what they've done in the past. It's about what they're doing at the moment," he added.
"I have been here for the past year so I know what they can do."