RESULTS are everything in international football, so there is little surprise that Holger Osieck's squad for next Wednesday's friendly against Wales conforms to the pragmatist's code as he looks to mix, match and fine-tune before the opening World Cup qualifier against Thailand next month.

It contains several familiar faces (Tim Cahill, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Schwarzer and Lucas Neill), as well as some who thought their chance might have gone (striker Scott McDonald) and one newcomer (defender Luke DeVere).

It also leaves out some regulars, including centre-back Sasa Ognenovski and striker Josh Kennedy; and others such as new Adelaide United recruit Dario Vidosic and striker Nikita Rukavytsya, set to make his Bundesliga debut with Hertha Berlin, all of whom might have hoped to be involved.

The national coach also made a pointed call on two veterans, mainstays of the side for more than a decade, who find themselves in identical situations - uncontracted and looking for clubs as the new season looms.

Neill, the team captain, is part of the squad, while Harry Kewell, who has not played for Australia since the win over Germany in March, is not.

Osieck was blunt in his reasoning, suggesting that the former had stayed in good shape despite his lack of an employer while the latter was not fit enough.

Defender Matt Spiranovic is in and, with Ognenovski's absence, will be given a full game to show whether he can do the job at international level. With Ognenovski heading towards his mid-30s and Neill even older, there is a big opportunity at the heart of the Socceroos' defence.

James Troisi and Michael Zullo, impressive as left-sided options in the games against Serbia and New Zealand two months ago, get another opportunity to press their case. Given Kewell's age and injury problems, and David Carney's lack of pace, Osieck is keen to find alternatives.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the inclusion of McDonald. The Middlesbrough forward has another chance to stake a claim for Osieck's World Cup plans, mainly because the German is not prepared to risk Kennedy's fitness. ''Josh has had problems with long-distance travel. He had to drop out on previous occasions because of back problems … I decided not to pick him and [to] save him for the World Cup qualifiers,'' Osieck said.