New Wellington Phoenix recruit Stefan Marinovic is eyeing a return to the All Whites as he prepares for his debut A-League season.
The goalkeeper starred for New Zealand in their failed 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, but hasn't played since the loss to Peru in Lima.
Now forming part of Phoenix coach Ufak Talay's new-look squad, the 27-year-old is hoping club form can propel him back to the national team.
The coachless All Whites have fixtures scheduled for November against the Republic of Ireland and Lithuania.
"I want to get that game," Marinovic told media on Monday.
"We've got some games in November and I'm looking forward to it.
"It's been a long time since I was on the pitch [for the All Whites], I think it was Peru," he said.
"There were a couple of tours in the meantime and I couldn't make the tours for various reasons, so to then hopefully play in November, I'm really looking forward to it."
But before all that is the opening months of the A-League season where the Phoenix will again be favoured for the wooden spoon.
Despite a playoff appearance under Mark Rudan last season, mass departures, including the coach and the three top goal scorers, the Wellington-based club have had to hit the reset button once again.
With Polish import Filip Kurto's defection to Western United, Marinovic was drafted in as a high-quality replacement for the league's best stopper last season.
First up for the Phoenix is a FFA Cup clash against the Brisbane Strikers next Wednesday. A side that currently sits sixth on the Queensland NPL standing.
Talay has targeted a deep run in the tournament as he looks to establish his best XI ahead of the start of the A-League campaign.
"I don't think we want to be in pre-season for more months without any competitive games," he said.
"First and foremost we've got to win that game and I think everybody is on the same page with that. We have to be up for it because they are mid-season and we are coming into our first competitive game, but I'm really looking forward to the boys going out there and performing.
"We have our own personal expectations and we want to win that 100 per cent. However, they are in the middle of the season, coming to the end of it, so what they may perceivably lack in quality, they make up for it in togetherness and team bonding, so we're on the back foot from that edge, but hopefully our quality will play out in the end."
And after a decade playing abroad in Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom, Marinovic is delighted to be back playing football in New Zealand.
"It's nice to be back. I've missed home. I've been away a really long time. So to finally come back home and have the opportunity to play professionally is really good," Marinovic said.
"I know a lot of the guys from the national team and around the block but it's mostly new faces, the clubs I've been at it's a similar kind of deal; new environment, new people.
"Even though it's home, I've been away for a very long time so it's a change but I've enjoyed it so far and Wellington I'm familiar with so I'm just generally happy to be here."
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