Holger Osieck has thrown a couple of bones to those clamouring for generational change, but his intrinsic conservatism is evident in a largely unadventurous Socceroos squad named for Wednesday's friendly against Scotland in Edinburgh. Yet another chance to look beyond the horizon has been missed.

Mainstays Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell are missing. But Lucas Neill, despite being without a club, is there to lead the team for the 50th time, and Mark Schwarzer has been called up for what could be his 99th cap. Are milestones putting a brake on the urgent need to rejuvenate the national team? You would hope not, but while Neill and Schwarzer are clearly members of Osieck's first-choice selection, why this game, and why now?

Noticable absentees ... Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell will miss the Socceroos game against Scotland. Credit:Reuters

The match at Easter Road could have been an ideal opportunity to use fringe players en masse. What we have got instead is an all-too-familiar squad, including recycled players such as Scott McDonald and Neil Kilkenny. That no members of the Olyroos (under-23s) squad got their graduation papers underscores the point.

For all that, there are four uncapped players in the 20-man list. The test is whether Osieck actually uses them. Most notable of the debutants is Jason Davidson. Never deemed quite good enough by the Australian youth coaches (he was a fringe players for the under-17s and under-20s), Davidson gets the chance to prove how wrong they were a week after his 21st birthday. If he gets on the park next week, he will be in rare company. Just two father-son combinations have played for the Socceroos - Alex and Lex Gibb, and Cliff and Jason van Blerk.