Cameron Burgess insists his lack of game time with Premier League side Ipswich Town will not hinder his ability to fill the Harry Souttar-sized hole in the heart of the Socceroos’ defence.
Burgess faces one of the toughest tests of his 14-cap Australia career when he's expected to marshal a Socceroos’ back three against China in Hangzhou on Tuesday.
China need a win to keep their chances of automatic World Cup qualification alive and will be expected to go for the jugular against a makeshift Socceroos side deprived of their defensive leader in Souttar.
The Leicester centre back has been sidelined for the remainder of qualifying after picking up an Achilles tendon injury over the Christmas period.
Despite being on the fringes at Ipswich in recent months, Burgess played a full match in the central role in Australia’s back three in Thursday’s 5-1 win over Indonesia in Sydney
The 29-year-old has had just three full 90-minute outings since the start of the new year, but said he was ready to handle the pressure of backing up for Tuesday’s clash.
“It’s not great not playing, I’d love to be playing every minute of every game, as would everyone,” Burgess said.
“But the upside is how hard we train there (at Ipswich). I've experienced that in the past where maybe I’ve not played for a number of games and been thrown in there for a big game and been fine.
“Because we train to a high level, you're prepared to be ready to play whenever you get a chance.
“As much as you'd like to be playing and that probably brings a little bit more match sharpness… in terms of fitness and being ready, the training I do every day definitely helps with that.
“Coming into camp to try and play minutes and help the team, you get an adrenaline buzz and I’m really looking forward to hopefully doing that again in the next couple days and going forward.”
Sitting second in Group C, Australia can take a huge step towards automatic qualification on Tuesday if they defeat the Chinese.
The Socceroos have games in Perth against the already-qualified Japan and an away trip to face Saudi Arabia to round out their qualification in the June window.
But there is little margin for error with third-placed Saudis just one point behind Tony Popovic’s side and boasting home advantage for what is looming as a winner-takes-all affair.
“The last game was the most important game I'd ever played,” Burgess said.
"It is a little bit one game at a time, but they (the games) are so, so important, and we're treating it as such.
“There's times to be relaxed and calm and clear in what we're doing in the moment on the pitch, but at the same time recognising the importance of the game itself.”
