Massimo Luongo and Jackson Irvine both got valuable minutes under their belt in England’s Championship overnight but were on the end of heavy defeats for their respective clubs.
QPR’s excellent recent run of results came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Nottingham Forest, beaten 4-0 at the City Ground.
Luongo, who has been in superb form for Ian Holloway’s side over the last month, played the full 90 minutes but was ineffectual as QPR were totally outplayed.
It was a similar story for Irvine’s Hull City, who were crushed 4-1 by second-placed Sheffield United.
Irvine played 83 minutes before he was substituted for the Tigers, who sit just above the relegation zone after 16 matches.
After back-to-back cameos off the bench over the last week, Caltex Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak was an unused substitute as Aston Villa lost 2-1 against Sheffield Wednesday.
The midfield trio are all in line for starts in Australia’s crucial intercontinental play-off first leg against Honduras next weekend.
With Mark Milligan suspended for the first leg in Central America, Ange Postecoglou is expected to call on at least one of the Championship trio to partner Aaron Mooy in midfield.
Elsewhere in the Championship, left-back James Meredith played 87 minutes as Millwall lost 1-0 against strugglers Burton Albion.
And while Bailey Wright was missing through suspension, his Bristol City side beat Cardiff City 2-1 to remain in fourth spot on the ladder.