On the field, Daniel Arzani isn't one to take a backwards step.
But the World Cup hopeful and fleet-footed winger admitted trepidation on arrival into his first Socceroos camp.
Arzani, 19, is the youngest member of the national team squad selected by Bert van Marwijk for next month's World Cup.
Thankfully, a friendship with the oldest member of the group - legendary striker Tim Cahill - forged at Melbourne City helped clear his nerves on arrival in Belek, Turkey.
"Coming into camp it was a bit frightening at first because I don't actually know anyone," he said.
"But I've got Timmy. He's a good friend of mine. He's very helpful."
Cahill and Arzani barely got a chance to share a pitch at City, with Arzani's emergence coming after Cahill's departure.
The pair were as thick as thieves for the time that the 38-year-old spent in the A-League.
On the eve of his first City start, back in January, Arzani told AAP that Cahill was "a huge role model" and kept in contact even after leaving City.
"I take any advice I can get from him because he's one of the best players Australia has ever had," he said.
Now the pair are contemporaries, sharing the limelight as Australia prepares for the World Cup.
Arzani said the magnitude of what he'd achieved in just five months of senior football was yet to strike home.
"It hasn't actually hit me yet. I haven't had that overwhelming excitement yet but that will come in the next couple of days," he said.
And importantly, the teenager knows he's not going to Russia yet.
The 23 outfielders in van Marwijk's squad are competing for 20 positions in the final group that will continue on to the World Cup, and Arzani is desperate to survive the cut.
"I want to get the first session out of the way and see where I'm at," he said.
"I just gotta prove I'm invaluable to the team. I think that will come by doing my own thing and hopefully doing well.
"Coming into national team camp as such a young player is kind of like starting over again.
"I've got to prove my worth and maybe more so than anyone else.
"Since I was young I always dreamed of playing for Australia, playing for the Socceroos.
"To think that could happen in the next couple of weeks could be amazing."
Australian Associated Press
