Ange Postecoglou says fluency in the final third will be the key to AFC Asian Cup success and has warned his Socceroos not to be distracted by the January transfer window.
Australia begin their campaign on home soil with the tournament opener against Kuwait on Friday, with speculation mounting over the hosts' formation and starting XI.
Attacking midfielder James Troisi hinted this week the boss could opt to field two playmakers in the curtain raiser at AAMI Park, but his coach was quick to clarify that the primary objective is to achieve variation in the final third.
"I'm pretty sure we've only got one number 10 shirt and they'll only be one number 10 out there," he said.
"I think players get a little bit carried away with numbers and positions. What we have tried to do is have a little bit more fluency in the front third, have less players playing in set positions.
"We tell James it's a 10 because that's where he wants to play but it's not really that, so don't tell him," he joked.
Postecoglou went for a 4-2-3-1 at Brazil 2014, with Mathew Leckie and Tommy Oar playing as wide forwards either side of Tim Cahill.
And while right-sided attacker Robbie Kruse has since returned to full fitness, traditional wingers could face a battle to be picked in the new-look national team.
"We've been evolving it since the World Cup," Postecoglou said.
"We want to play with a real fluency up front and some rotations in the way our strikers play. Sometimes that'll mean them taking up non-traditional striking positions.
"We still need width but we might get width from different players and different positions. Part of it is we don't want the opposition to get set against us if we've got plenty of movement."
Postecoglou also issued a stern warning to any players with one eye on their next move at club level.
"I'd be very surprised if any of the boys are thinking about anything else but what's before them in the next month," he said.
"Obviously it's the January window, I wouldn't think too many of our boys are worried about where they're going to be at the end of this month.
"If anyone's distracted by anything else then it just means somebody else will take their position. And I don't think anyone in our squad at the moment wants anything more than to play that first game and be part of this team. I don't see distractions coming into play."
Of those Socceroos hoping to be part of Postecoglou’s starting line-up for the opener against Kuwait is Chris Herd.
The Aston Villa man was happy to have swapped a freezing winter in England for a sweltering Aussie summer after Saturday’s arduous session.
“It’s nice to train in some heat. It was a hot one but it’s good preparation for the game on Friday,” he said.
Despite being on the bench at Villa Park over the last six weeks the versatile 25-year-old described his fitness as “great” as he eyes a potential role at right back or even in midfield.
And the WA product revealed extra training sessions over the last six weeks will hopefully give him the best possible chance of nabbing a starting berth at Asia’s showpiece event.
“At the moment we’re all training together hard, and concentrating on the quality in training.
“All I can do is my best.”
Likewise Swindon Town midfielder Massimo Luongo has designs on a spot in the starting XI after missing out on game time at the World Cup.
Postecoglou has options in midfield but Luongo is feeling more confident after retaining his spot in the squad over the last six months.
“Leading up to the World Cup I did have it in the back of my head that the Asian Cup is more realistic for me to be involved in," he said.
“Obviously I didn’t play in the World Cup and I knew this would be an even more important tournament for myself.
“There’s still a week to go to the first intense and as you saw today, it was quite intense. No-one’s got an easy run to that first game."
“Everyone’s up for places. It creates that natural competition.”
Make sure you get your family and friends together and RISE with the Socceroos! Tickets are available by clicking here www.socceroos.com.au/tickets
Join us on our journey throughout the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in January by downloading the Official Socceroos app! Download the app through the App Store or Google Play store, or CLICK HERE