Socceroos late bloomer Matt McKay pinching himself as he prepares for 50th cap against Japan Koke of Spain challenges Matt McKay of Australia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. LATE bloomer Matt McKay still has to pinch himself to believe that he is about to earn his 50th Socceroos cap on Tuesday night when Japan hosts Australia. "I didn't think I would get past my first," said McKay, who had no trouble in recalling the finer details of his national team in debut in August 2006 in an Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Sydney. I replaced Steve Corica ... (Sasho) Petrovski and Travis Dodd scored. But while that was very much a second-string Socceroos team devoid of a host of overseas-based players, 31-year-old McKay is now always in the selection discussion when it comes to picking Australia's best 11. If Sunday's training session was any indication, McKay will start in the midfield on Tuesday night in Osaka alongside Massimo Luongo and skipper Mile Jedinak. "It's been a great ride," said the Brisbane Roar star, who had to wait almost three years for his second cap before truly establishing himself in the national setup at the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar, where he was part of the team that lost the final 1-0 to Japan. McKay is desperate to go one better when Australia hosts the Asian Cup in January. It's a huge tournament. I don't think a lot of the boys will realise until they get back there and it starts ramping up," he said. McKay is in desperate need of playing time ahead of the tournament. He has only played two competitive matches since the World Cup - where he started in two of Australia's three games - due to ankle surgery and suspension. "It's obviously a work in progress for me, but my body is feeling great, my ankle is good and I am feeling fresh and ready to go," he said. I really enjoyed the World Cup and I still have that fire in the belly, be it club or international football. In his corner is Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou, who coached McKay in the Roar team that won the 2010-11 A-League title. "I had the privilege of playing under Ange in Brisbane, and that was the most enjoyable season of my career," he said before adding that there was similar satisfaction in the Socceroos environment despite just two wins in 11 matches under Postecoglou. "Training is good, everyone is positive, we have the right set up on and off the field ... (now) we have to translate things into performances and results," he said. Ange has the same philosophies and man management (as he did at the Roar). Everyone always respects him and always listens. Postecoglou is yet to finalise his starting 11 for Tuesday night's clash, with key attacker Tim Cahill missing training on Sunday after suffering a blow to his hip in Friday's session. For me if selected, then I'll always make myself available, but it's not normally in training I get knocks. It should be fine," Cahill said. Turkey-based left back Aziz Behich seems to have the inside running to start ahead of Jason Davidson in a back four also likely to include Alex Wilkinson, Trent Sainsbury and Ivan Franjic.