Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson wants a chance to prove himself to Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek in a full-strength Australian side.

Thompson, who was part of Australia's 2006 World Cup squad, has been overlooked by Verbeek since failing to impress in Asian Cup qualifiers against Kuwait and Indonesia early this year.

Those teams were made up of Australian-based players, but Thompson was confident he could grab his chance if selected alongside the nation's overseas-based stars.

"I can keep making excuses, but the teams I have been played with, like against Kuwait and Indonesia, the Socceroos team was a very inexperienced team, a lot of young boys coming through," Thompson said on Thursday.

"I really would like the opportunity to play with the Socceroos that are playing overseas and playing at high levels.

"Because when you have players that are playing at that great level all the time, you step up to that level."

Verbeek gave Thompson a glimmer of hope on Wednesday, nominating him as one of several A-League players contending for a potential late call-up for the November 14 Asian Cup qualifier against Oman.

First-choice frontman Josh Kennedy, named in the 23-man squad, is in doubt with a back injury.

But Thompson said he was trying not to worry about where he ranked in Verbeek's thinking.

"I don't know how Dutch minds think," he joked.

"But obviously he's got his certain players that he likes.

"Hopefully I can keep working hard enough and hopefully I can be one of those players.

"Obviously I'm happy with my performances lately and that's all I can really do."

Thompson brushed aside suggestions he might improve his chances by heading overseas, saying the best thing he could do was score goals and perform consistently.

He will get another chance when Melbourne play Central Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, with goals against the Mariners certain to impress, given they have conceded just eight in 13 games.

"I like defences that leak goals, no striker likes a good solid defence, but we have to be up for it on Saturday," Thompson said.

"We lost our first game to them and obviously we want to right some wrongs."

Victory coach Ernie Merrick has included Surat Sukha, Robbie Kruse and Evan Berger in an extended squad, after all three had been out injured in recent weeks.