As much as Kevin Muscat would love to take James Troisi's sweet left boot to Brisbane in the A-League next month, the Melbourne Victory coach would be just as delighted if he's away with the Australian national side.
And the ex-English league defender would hardly be surprised, warning Troisi will only keep getting better.
If there was ever a case for Socceroos' coach Ange Postecoglou to recall his Asian Cup hero, it was his A-League showing against Central Coast on Sunday.
He was the inspiration behind Victory's 3-0 win in Gosford. His searing solo strike was merely one element of the playmaker's display that also saw him have a hand in Besart Berisha's brace.
It's no secret Troisi has been plugging away in the hope Postecoglou might give him the chance to add to his 28 caps.
The 28-year-old's recent purple patch has approached career-best levels and already made him a front runner to replace the injured Tom Rogic in March's qualifiers against Iraq in Tehran, and the U.A.E. in Sydney.
"He's been superb, and I really do believe we haven't seen the best of him this season," Muscat said.
"If James is unavailable when we go to Brisbane [two days after the Iraq game], I'll be really happy for him.
"Over the conversations I've had with him 18 months prior to coming back [to Victory], that was one of the things we spoke about.
"You need to be in an environment where you can train and play with a smile on your face, in familiar surroundings in Melbourne.
"He's doing that and his performances are good, but I think they'll improve."
The result lifted second-placed Victory to within eight points of leaders Sydney FC. It sets the stage for a mammoth Premiers' Plate race in the final seven regular-season rounds.
Muscat, as always, underplayed talk of the table, though the significance of upcoming weeks cannot be lost on him.
Sydney, who suffered their first defeat of the season, to Western Sydney on Saturday, must next face Melbourne City away.
Should the Sky Blues lose and Victory simultaneously beat struggling Adelaide, and then reign in the last Big Blue of the season, Victory will sit just two points adrift of the summit with five games to play.
"While it's mathematically possible we will keep going, aiming to take maximum points from the remaining games," Muscat said.
"If that's enough to overtake Sydney, great.
"But there's no point worrying about what they're doing because I can't affect that side of things."