Australian defender Rhyan Grant has committed to spending up to six weeks on the road to ensure his Socceroos availability for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Grant was the only A-League-based player named in Graham Arnold's 27-man squad on Saturday for games against China and Vietnam over the next fortnight.
The green and gold have been forced to host their match against China in Qatar next week due to quarantine restrictions in Australia.
With the Socceroos short on right-back options, Grant accepted a call up that will see him remain outside of Australia for the next month to avoid a fortnight in hotel quarantine before the next round of qualifiers in October.
"With the loss of Fran Karacic...we were very short in that (right-back) position," Arnold said.
"Paddy Steinfort and the organisation spoke to Sydney FC. I spoke to Rhyan Grant and Rhyan’s personal life is such that he’s able to come over.
"The plan is for him to stay away after this window and be ready also for the October window. We’re grateful for Rhyan enormously that he’s committed to this because as I said we’re a little bit light on that position."
Arnold had previously called on clubs to release players but admitted a number of Socceroos candidates based in Australia opted against playing next month to avoid excess time away from home.
Mathew Leckie was one of those with the attacker only recently moving to Melbourne City and eager to remain with his young family as they settle into new surroundings - something Arnold was never going to question.
"At the end of the day every player has personal reasons and issues in life," he said.
"For a lot of players it’s that 14-day quarantine coming back to Australia. A number of them have already done it twice in the last three to six months.
"The players felt they couldn’t do it again and I’m just here to support the players. I support them 100 per cent."
The Socceroos kick off their final phase of World Cup qualifying on Friday morning (AEST) against China with the game to be broadcast on Channel 10 for the first time under a new rights deal.