Marco Tilio is ready to remind everyone what he's capable of.
Before he left Melbourne City, as a big fish in a small pond, Tilio told AAP he was ready to "start at the bottom again" overseas.
But not even he would have picked how thumping his landing would be in Scotland.
Tilio arrived at Scottish powerhouse Celtic with a torn quad and has played just 27 minutes since.
But selected for the Socceroos' Asian Cup squad, Tilio hopes his fortunes can start to change.
"Of course from the outside it's been tough," Tilio told AAP.
"I obviously went to the club with an injury. But I've been back for four months now fully training, fully fit. I probably feel physically better than what I've ever been in my career.
"So I feel really good and I'm just raring to go, ready to play and hopefully this tournament's a chance for me to do that."
Tilio is understandably cagey on his short-term future, especially with speculation of a January loan move.
But he has relished the deep end at Celtic.
"I think it's only improved me as a player being in and around that every day," he said.
"But overall, I'd like to get more game time and whatever that looks like, we'll see what happens."
With Asian Cup squads extended to 26 players, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold had room to make some speculative calls.
Just like star defender Harry Souttar, who has struggled for game time at Leicester City, Tilio could get the opportunity to use the international stage to show his wares.
"Arnie's always about giving opportunity and throughout my career so far, he's given me a lot of opportunities," Tilio said.
"So I've just got to try to repay him and that's with performances in training and making sure I'm ready to show that I'm ready to play."
Deep-lying, packed defences are expected to confront the Socceroos - a challenge one-on-one specialist Tilio welcomes.
After showing flashes of his talent off the bench against Bahrain, Tilio is determined to embrace the Cup in Qatar.
Then, he has the under-23 Asian Cup, which doubles as qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.
"That's what I love to do, is play football," Tilio said.
"So any opportunity I get to do that, I can showcase what I'm capable of.
"I'm just hoping I can do that here at a major tournament.
"It's a massive six months ahead for myself.
"I want to win this tournament and then go on in April and do the same thing to qualify for the Olympics. It'd be special to go to another Olympics."
