Melbourne midfielder Rody Vargas admits he was surprised when told that he was selected for the Qantas Socceroos training camp next week in Sydney.
New Australian coach Pim Verbeek, in consultation with predecessor Graham Arnold, will assemble a squad of 22 Hyundai A-League players in preparation for Australia's first World Cup qualification match with Qatar in Melbourne on February 6.
It's been a long time between drinks for Vargas who was last charged with national duties more than a decade ago when he participated in a Qantas Joeys training camp.
"(It was) a big shock, (I'm) obviously very honoured just to make a training squad," the 29-year-old admitted.
"I'll take it with two hands and hopefully try and prove myself and, look, I know there's a lot of quality players abroad, but hopefully the Hyundai A-League boys can put on a good show for Pim."
However, Vargas insists that he is realistic about his chances of representing his country any time soon.
"I know there's a lot of boys that (are) plying their trade in top flights in Europe, so obviously they're gonna be well set for a call-up as well," he highlighted.
"Obviously (I'll) give my all, and once you're in there you've always got a chance. Soccer's a funny game, so you never know what happens, the World Cup's two years away, a lot of things can happen."
Although Vargas was taken aback by his selection, Victory coach Ernie Merrick was far from surprised with the news.
"If the new coach wants to look at the best talent around in the Hyundai A-League, I think Rody's been one of the best defenders in the Hyundai A-League," Merrick forthrightly pointed out.
Merrick may not have been shocked with Vargas's inclusion but many would have thought that's precisely how he would have felt when his in-form shot-stopper Michael Theoklitos was overlooked by Verbeek.
The Melbourne coach has been one of the 26-year-old's biggest advocates regarding national selection but he wasn't about to question Verbeek's decision to leave Theoklitos out of the training camp.
"I think Pim Verbeek's got a very, very tough job and I think he's certainly gone about it the right way, looking at every game he can and pulling in a fairly large Australian squad from the Hyundai A-League into camp and I'm sure he'll get round to looking at Michael, if not this time, another time," Merrick said.
"There's no doubt Michael's had a good year. I think Michael's a quality player and he'll get his… just desserts some time."
Vargas will be joined by Victory team-mates Kevin Muscat and Archie Thompson in the squad and Merrick couldn't be prouder of the trio.
"To see Kevin Muscat get an opportunity, I think that's recognition of how good he's played not just this year, but the last couple of years in the Hyundai A-League, even though he's moved positions a couple of times," said Merrick.