Mustafa Amini has labelled his maiden Caltex Socceroos selection as "half a dream come true" because being on the fringes isn't enough, he wants to play his part in helping Australia make the 2018 World Cup.
Amini - who was identified as a future star when he made his Hyundai A-League debut as a teenager - was named in Ange Postecoglou's final group of 23 last week.
But the 23-year-old has made it clear he won't be satisfied with simply being part of training sessions as Australia prepare to play Iraq and United Arab Emirates in vital World Cup qualifiers over the next fortnight.
"It's sort of half a dream come true. At the end of day, yes, I've been selected in the squad but, of course, I want to help the team qualify for a World Cup," Amini told Goal.
"That's massive and I want to be able to get the chance to debut and show Australia and show Ange what I can do as well."
The Sydney-born central midfielder has played 25 league games for AGF so far this season, producing five goals and two assists.
AGF coach Glen Riddersholm has generally used Amini as one of two more advanced central midfielders in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Postecoglou told reporters on Tuesday that Amini's "maturity" in an "important role in his team" had played a key role in the latter's selection.
"I've been playing now consistent football for the last 13 months, 14 months - week in, week out - and it's been a good step for me," Amini said.
"You know, playing 90 minutes and getting my fitness up and all those little things, and of course, being in a team that's struggling a bit in the league, you have to step up yourself."
The former Central Coast Mariners product declared this week's promotion to Australia's senior national squad was effectively a culmination of his European journey so far, which started with Borussia Dortmund in July 2012.
Amini was set to play for AGF against OB on Sunday in Denmark before flying to Iran to link up with the rest of the Socceroos, with Australia set to play Iraq on neutral territory in Tehran on March 23 (midnight KO, March 24 AEDT).
