Socceroos defender Harry Souttar says he'd like to see referees play closer attention to the infringing and tight marking he has faced at attacking set-pieces at the Asian Cup.
With his 198cm frame and nous around goal, Souttar is one of Australia's most threatening weapons at corner and free-kicks, with 10 goals in 25 caps.
But in Qatar, he has been frequently double-teamed and kept goalless, with multiple defenders hanging off him amid comical scenes.
"If I'm being honest, I think the referees could probably help me a bit more," Souttar told AAP ahead of Sunday's round-of-16 match against Indonesia.
"I know we had meetings before the tournament about what are going to be fouls and what's going to be certain fouls and then you go into the games and you're thinking 'well, we've been told that's something and they're not giving it'.
"It's one of them. It's frustrating, but we're used to it."
Coach Graham Arnold agreed, but indicated to AAP his big centre-back needed to make sure referees knew he was being infringed.
"Harry maybe needs to play-act a little bit more as well - hit the ground and we might get get something from it," Arnold joked.
He added, more seriously: "Like the Uzbekistan game, when I look back at the set pieces, they're basically rugby-tackling him and he can't move.
"But that's the way it is."
But the focus on Souttar should open the door for players like Kusini Yengi, Cam Burgess or Kye Rowles, and Jackson Irvine at set-pieces.
"If I'm getting double-marked or whatever, then there's opportunities for me just to leave the area and drag two out," Souttar said.
"Because we've obviously got good headers of the ball, some great height and real aggression in there."
Arnold said with teams defending set pieces well, Australia needed to improve their approach.
"It's all about the delivery and making sure that we get our runs right and movement right and I've been a little bit disappointed in our delivery," he said.
"The balls are different but surely by now we're getting used to them."
Souttar insisted players in the box also needed to lift.
"Can we be stronger, can we move more, can we be in different positions?" he said.
"Obviously we work on it a lot and our record was really good.
"I've had a few chances where I've headed one back to the taker, it's hit the wrong part of my head and obviously the keeper's come for a few of them.
"But if I score or if I don't score, as long as we win, that's all I care about."
