Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou says he must keep experimenting ahead of Asian Cup THE Postecoglou revolution is still in full swing, no matter how close the Asian Cup looms on the horizon. As ebullient as ever, the Socceroos coach insists that the hard reality of the playing stocks he inherited mean he can't stop auditioning young hopefuls, even at this late stage and even with a record of one win in eight games. To him, the idea that in his final game before the Asian Cup, he might prefer to be running a settled side through its paces - especially against Japan - is just wishful thinking. With one eye on the future, Postecoglou wants a squad that will emerge from the Asian Cup ready to hit the ground running when the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup begin next June. Thus Mitch Nicholls, Aaron Mooy, Chris Herd and Terry Antonis get the chance of a late break into calculations for January. Mitch Nichols of the Glory will get the chance to stake a claim for a Socceroos spot Source: Getty Images Ange Postecoglou has once again named an experimental squad for the upcoming game against Japan, with five changes made to the squad that travelled to the Middle East last month. "You've got to deal with realities," he said. The realities are that we need to expand our playing pool. It's as simple as that. You can't just manufacture that overnight. This is the only time to have friendly games to speak of. Beyond the Asian Cup will be World Cup qualifiers, that won't be the time to throw players in or experiment. No matter how legitimate that argument might be, it hardly gives the team a free pass against Japan, not least when supporters are growing increasingly nervous at the lack of convincing results or performances. Postecoglou spoke with delight at the prospect of a solid week of drilling his players in the philosophy he wants - "We've changed our style but no one seems to have noticed," he added archly - and that is a mini test in itself, how much he coxes out of the team. For he will have not much more preparation time just before the Asian Cup kicks off, and admitted that the squad named yesterday is a substantial marker to those he has in mind for the Asian Cup. Ange Postecoglou says shaking things up in his squad is the only way to find the right formula Source: Getty Images "It's fairly close, but look at a guy like Matthew Spiranovic or even Tomi Juric," he said. I had a good chat with Popa (Wanderers coach Tony Popovic) and it makes sense to leave them here and play games, because they need games. Would Matthew Spiranovic be in this squad if he was fully fit? Absolutely, he was our best defender at the World Cup. But some of those included this time might have to watch their backs, particularly those who - like Jason Davidson - can't get game time currently. "No doubt about it, going into the Asian Cup, we won't take anyone who isn't match fit," Postecoglou said. There's only two or three exceptions we're taking into this camp because we want to have a look at them. But leading into the Asian Cup, if they're not playing it's going to be hard to select them. Originally published as Ange: Experimenting crucial to finding best formula