A pumped-up Tim Cahill today vowed to fill the breach in his Socceroos return and is desperate to cap his comeback with a cherished goal at Suncorp Stadium.
The Everton star has fully embraced the challenge that confronts him in his first international in eight months when an injury-hit Australia meets Qatar on Wednesday night.
Cahill, 28, will take on extra leadership and attacking midfield responsibilities in the World Cup qualifier due to the absence of injured duo Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano.
Coach Pim Verbeek is also missing defensive midfielders Vince Grella and Carl Valeri.
Verbeek has backed Cahill, sidelined for the bulk of this year due to an ankle operation, to step up to lend a hand to captain Lucas Neill.
Cahill has confidently declared himself up for the test, and predicted he'd hit the ground running for country as he did for Everton last month before copping a controversial three-match ban.
"Definitely," he said.
"We play in such big games with our domestic clubs and internationally we've been on the world stage so it's something that I take with both hands and I take great pride in with people wanting me to be a leader with Lucas Neill and your (Mark) Schwarzers.
"So it's a compliment to us and it's something I'll take on to the pitch and try and get a result.
"I feel good. I'm training well and working hard.
"I've had this setback for six months and people have seen the impact that I've made on the pitch so that's the main thing and hopefully I can make that same impact at international level."
Few stars love playing for their country more than Cahill and it's hard to find a bad performance in his 28-cap international career, highlighted by 13 goals.
While he predicted Qatar would play an ultra-defensive game in attempt to get some points from the away tie, the noted goal-poacher said he'd be looking to add to his tally.
"To be honest I'm really excited and if I get a goal it will be absolutely amazing because obviously scoring for my club is brilliant, it gives it that extra bit of spice scoring for your country.
"I'll definitely be hounding for a goal on Wednesday night."
"This is what we live for. It gives me goosebumps.
"We've had some good times here (in Brisbane)... and playing for Australia gives you that extra buzz."
It was Kewell who secured the lone goal in Australia's 1-0 win over Iraq at Suncorp Stadium in June.
Cahill's last international was against Qatar in Melbourne in February, scoring a goal in the 3-0 victory.
The Socceroos found the back of the net three more times against the Qataris in the away clash in Doha which put them through to the current phase of World Cup qualification.
Cahill was supremely confident of another three points to lay the platform for a 2010 berth in South Africa.
"The only thing that can beat us (against Qatar) is ourselves so we have to make sure we break down every barrier that is thrown at us," he said.
"They will probably put 10 or 11 players behind the ball and make it difficult for us.
"But we have to show them a lot of respect as we do and we just look forward to playing the game and making it happen in that 90 minutes."
