Four years after his rollercoaster ride to his first World Cup, Jamie Maclaren hopes sealing a ticket to his second can prove a far simpler task.
In 2018, Maclaren missed out on selection for Bert van Marwijk's initial Socceroos squad before making a late charge into the final 23.
This time around the Melbourne City striker should be a lock.
Maclaren has won three consecutive A-League Men golden boots, netted seven goals in World Cup qualifying and scored in the play-off penalty shootout against Peru.
"Last World Cup - you could write a book in my case," he told reporters.
"But it's part of the journey, as a footballer you go through ups and downs and that was the best feeling ever, being selected in that final squad because of what I went through.
"But now, I've said previously I've felt more valued in this Socceroos environment under Graham Arnold because he's given me those chances.
"Me and Harry Souttar I think have scored the most goals in qualification and that's something I take pride in.
"Not every game I'm going to start, I understand that, but when I do play I need to make an impact."
Maclaren has three goals in the opening two ALM rounds and appears poised to reap the rewards of his club form and important role in qualifying.
"It's been a long journey," he said.
"Four years of qualifying, you did the quarantines, I sat in a hotel when my team was playing in a grand final (in 2020-21).
"All those things, they add up and we've now got to the final point.
"All I can do is control and be in the box for the chances that come my way and if Arnie selects me then great."
Maclaren is eyeing a fifth golden boot but with 123 career goals, he has his eyes set on a bigger individual prize: Besart Berisha's ALM record of 142 goals.
"If I'm going to be selfish, I'd be thinking about Berisha's record," he said.
"You've got to hold huge respect for him.
"A guy who was an absolute machine and to be sitting 19 goals behind him - not that I'm counting - to be sitting so close to him is a nice feeling."
Damian Mori's all-time NSL/ALM record of 240 goals appears beyond the 29-year-old Maclaren, but he relishes being in the same lists as Bobby Despotovski, Rod Brown and John Kosmina.
"These names are huge in Australian football and to even think that my name's anywhere near them is an honour," he said.
