HIGH-velocity Jets defender Lucas Mauragis is set to add an Olyroos cap to his expanding list of achievements after being selected in a 21-man squad for Asian Cup qualifiers against Indonesia.
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Mauragis flew out last week for a training camp in Dubai, before a two-legged play-off against Indonesia in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 27 and 30.
If successful, the Olyroos will secure a spot at under-23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan next year.
While that tournament is not part of the qualification process for the Paris Olympics, it looms as a key part of the preparation.
For Mauragis it will be his first chance to play for Australia. The 20-yaer-old has been to a national team camp but is yet to play.
Selection continued a whirlwind two years for the Merimbula product since accepting an invitation to trial by Jets youth team coach Daniel McBreen.
The left-sided specialist made his A-League debut in July 2020, before a breakout season last campaign.
He is in a battle with former Olyroo Dylan Murnane for a starting spot in the season-opener against the Central Coast at McDonald Jones Stadium on November 21.
Mauragis will be away for two weeks but an easing of COVID restriction means he will not face 14 days quarantine on return.
The Jets flyer is among 15 players from A-League clubs in the squad, including former teammate Luka Prso, who this week signed a one-year deal with Wellington Phoenix.
National Technical Director Trevor Morgan will coach the team on an interim basis after Graham Arnold quit his Under-23 role to focus solely on the Socceroos' World Cup qualifying campaign.
Morgan said the players that have arrived in Dubai with energy and enthusiasm.
"It has been great to see how much it means to the players to come together," Morgan said. "They love representing Australia and have not had the opportunity to for such a long time.
"The squad we've selected casts a real eye to the future, with the core of the squad age-eligible to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in three years' time."
Tokyo was Australia's first appearance at an Olympic men's football tournament in 13 years, with Arnold's team exiting in the group stage despite opening the tournament with a 2-0 win over Argentina.
AUSTRALIAN UNDER-23 SQUAD: Adisu Bayew, Zaydan Bello, Jordan Bos, Noah Botic, Lachlan Brook, Kai Calderbank-Park, Jordan Courtney-Perkins, Luke Duzel, Taras Gomulka, Jacob Italiano, Alessandro Lopane, Lewis Mauragis, Lewis Miller, Fabian Monge, Adam Pavlesic, Luka Prso, Nicholas Suman, Callum Talbot, Marc Tokich, Patrick Wood, Patrick Yazbek.
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