Socceroos' coach Graham Arnold has praised the character of superstar Harry Kewell after the way he responded to being left out of the starting line-up against Thailand as debate rages over how best to use the Liverpool star for the rest of the Asian Cup.
While there is no doubt a fit Kewell would arguably be the first player named on any Australian teamsheet, his lack of matches in recent times meant he looked well below his best in the Socceroos' opening two matches against Oman and Iraq, where the team took just one point thanks to Tim Cahill's injury-time equaliser against Oman.
But when Australian coach Graham Arnold bravely elected not to start Kewell in the crunch match against Thailand, the star midfielder looked a different player when he came on as a substitute and scored the final goal in a 4-0 win.
Now it remains to be seen how Arnold elects to use Kewell in Saturday's quarter-final against Japan in Hanoi - the eagerly awaited re-match of last year's World Cup clash in Kaiserslautern which Australia won 3-1 thanks to three goals in the last ten minutes.
Arnold said such was the character of Kewell, the Liverpool star would not object to again starting on the bench - even against the twice defending Asian Cup champions.
"Harry has got a fantastic attitude and character," Arnold said.
"He played two 90 minute games in five days (against Oman and Iraq) and they were his first full games in 12 months."
"So I felt that with the short turnaround from the Iraq game to Thailand (just two full days' rest between matches) it would be better to keep him fresh then bring him on."
But the good news for Kewell, who missed nearly all of last season after suffering septic arthritis in his foot during the World Cup match against Croatia in which his late goal ensured the Australians reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time, is that he will have four full days to prepare for the quarter-final against Japan.
With Arnold likely to stick with the 3-5-2 formation that was so successful against Thailand, Kewell could either partner Mark Viduka up front - in place of veteran John Aloisi who started against Thailand - or play on the left side of midfield.
Or, he could again be used off the bench, as Arnold also has to decide whether Cahill - who is yet to start a match in this tournament after coming into the Asian Cup having not played since breaking a bone in his foot in March - should also come into the starting line-up.
But like Kewell against Thailand, Cahill also had a huge impact coming off the bench in this tournament - having not only scored the late equaliser against Oman but also setting up two goals for Viduka when he came off the bench in the second half against Thailand.
Meanwhile as Australia began its preparations for Japan, young defender Mark Milligan - one of the stars of the win over Thailand - said spirits in the Socceroos' camp were high after the team progressed to the knockout stages despite failing to win its first two matches.
"The spirit is certainly a lot higher than what it was a week ago," he said.
"The boys are relieved (to reach the knockout stages) but there is still a lot of improvement to come from us."
"But we are back on the right track and things can only go up from here."