Caltex Socceroo defender Trent Sainsbury is relishing the chance to benchmark the Aussie national team against world number on Brazil this Tuesday night.
The two nations meet in Melbourne in a friendly at the MCG.
The match is also Australia’s farewell on home soil before jetting off to Russia for the Confederations Cup, where they'll meet reigning world champions Germany, African champs Cameroon and South American powerhouse Chile.
95,000 see Brazil lose to Messi’s Argentina
Sainsbury, who this season has been on-loan at Serie A power Inter Milan from Chinese club Jiangsu Suning, is relishing the chance to see how Australia can further develop against the world number ranked Brazilians.
And after racking up the all-important win over the Saudis on Thursday night in World Cup qualification, there’s a buzz in the Melbourne camp.
The Brazilians too are on a high despite losing to Argentina on Friday night at the G.
Coach Tite’s side has already booked its slot for next year’s World Cup in Russia with 10 wins from 14 South American qualification games.
It should be an entertaining 90 minutes but it also looms as a hugely beneficial night for Australia.
BENCHMARK
“It’s a nice game to see where we’re at. Get to gauge ourselves against the world’s best and some of the world’s best players,” Sainsbury told media on Sunday morning ahead of training later in the day.
“It’s nice for the boys to come up against these types of players and see how we can compete.
“And we’re a team that doesn’t just want to hold on. We want to keep going and going and score more goals.
BRAZIL’S STARS
“Obviously with Coutinho being talked about for Barcelona, and Fernandinho at Man City, it’s nice to gauge yourself [personally] for where you’re at.
“Brazil is another kettle of fish [to Saudi]. Great players. Good coach. We’ll have to go out there and do it our way.
“We’ve got a duty to the Australian public who come out to watch to put on a show.”
WC QUALIFIER WON, BIG MONTH CONTINUES
“We’re going to be playing against some of the best in the world in Russia, so it’ll be good to have this hit out.
"We’ll go out with a good game plan and mentality and put a show on for the fans.”