Mile Jedinak says being named Socceroos skipper for the FIFA World Cup is the biggest honour he has received and, despite the size of the challenge ahead, insisted it will be business as usual under his leadership.
Having captained his country for the first time against Ecuador in March, Jedinak, 29, will now take the armband on a permanent basis for next month's tournament in Brazil and beyond.
"We all know the significance of it," the Crystal Palace man said as he addressed the media alongside coach Ange Postecoglou and vice-captains Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano in Terrigal on Wednesday.
"To be amongst the group and have these gentlemen beside me, helping me ... it's probably the biggest honour I have received.
“Really looking to the challenge ahead."
Perhaps more reserved and softly spoken than some natural leaders, Jedinak intends to replicate the approach that saw him help his club side to Premier League survival against the odds this season.
"Yeah, look, I tend to lead by example," he said.
"It's what I know, what I do. Where necessary you might alter, you might be a bit more vocal than other times. (I) always try to set an example, not just for the inexperienced members, for everybody, by what I do, by how I conduct myself. I'll just keep doing what I normally do."
Jedinak, together with veterans Cahill and Bresciano, will be charged with guiding an inexperienced squad in daunting matches against Chile, the Netherlands and Spain at the World Cup, a task he and his fellow leaders are relishing.
"We're all here for a reason; we're all because we're good footballers. We've been picked on that basis," he said.
"You've mentioned the inexperience, but I think it's business as usual.
“For all of us three in particular, it's nothing that we don't do or we haven't done for the last couple of camps anyway.
“It's trying to get everyone familiar with each other and make them as settled as possible.”
"From our perspective, although yeah, we are going into a tournament, it's business as usual."
Send Off the Socceroos
Socceroos vs South Africa, presented by NAB
Monday 26 May 2014
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Tickets are from $30 including public transport. Buy now!