Nabbout, Petratos spurred on by Hyundai A-League alliance

Outgoing Newcastle Jets winger Andrew Nabbout has revealed how he and Dimitri Petratos have hatched a plan to rekindle their potent partnership on football's grandest stage.

Caltex Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk named the pair in his 29-man preliminary squad for the friendlies against Norway and Colombia later this month.

The news caps a dream two days for Nabbout, who on Monday sealed a move to Japanese giants Urawa Red Diamonds.

The 25-year-old credits his "real competition" with Petratos for elevating him to national team contention and hopes to join his partner in crime on the plane to Russia.

"I believe he's got the best out of me and I've got the best out of him so it just shows the type of mentality [at the Jets]," Nabbout told socceroos.com.au.

"When we got the notification we kind of looked at each other said 'well I hope we can take this together the whole way'.

"We drive each other to become better players. He's been top class all year and deservedly he's alongside me on that list.

"Hopefully we can push through to the World Cup together."

Dimitri Petratos
Could Dimitri Petratos and Andrew Nabbout line up together in the international arena?

Nabbout and Petratos have combined for 19 goals and 15 assists in the Hyundai A-League this term as the architects of Newcastle's evolution from wooden spooners to title contenders.

READ: The Hyundai A-League bolters in Van Marwijk's first squad

Petratos, who has also had spells with Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar, hopes to be included when Van Marwijk next week confirms his squad for the matches in Oslo and London.

"It's a good reward, whatever happens from here on," the playmaker said.

"I've been working really hard.

"It's a good feeling to be in the 29 but there's still [another cut] so we'll see what happens."