But there will be as much interest in the recall of striker Nikita Rukavytsya from the international wilderness as there is in the return of the captain given Australia's struggle to score goals in recent games.

Rukavytsya is playing in Israel with Maccabi Haifa, but has not been seen in an Australian set-up for three years.

Postecoglou has plumped in the main for recent international experience, selecting 22 of the 23 players he chose for the two ties which condemned Australia to the lottery of the play-offs when they lost to Japan and then could only beat Thailand 2-1 in Melbourne. The absentee is defender Matthew Spiranovic.

Australia eventually finished third in their Asian qualifying group despite losing only once in 10 games, ending up just behind group runners-up Saudi Arabia on goal difference with Japan progressing to Russia 2018 as group winners.

The coach will cut the squad next week, but his extended group includes some familar names who weren't there for the last two maches: Jedinak and Aziz Behich. There are others who have had limited experience with the national team - goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, Dutch-based winger Craig Goodwin, Austrian-based midfielder James Jeggo and defenders Matthew Jurman from Suwon Samsung Bluewings in South Korea and Josh Risdon from Western Sydney Wanderers.

"There is a short turnaround from the last matches so we are fully focused on these upcoming fixtures against Syria," said Postecoglou.

"The players that we have selected for these crucial matches all have the benefit of several club matches under their belts over the past few weeks, and I am confident whichever 23 players we settle on will be able to do the job next month.

"Now that the match venues have been confirmed [in Malaysia and Sydney] we will prepare for our fixtures against Syria just like every other international opposition we faced throughout this campaign."

The Socceroos will begin to assemble in Malacca, Malaysia, for the first game from Sunday October 1. Syria, who finished third in the other Asian group behind Iran and South Korea, is unable to play matches at home.