Jordy Bos is the young sensation gunning for his first World Cup and a crack at Europe's top leagues.
Aziz Behich is the wily veteran ready to help him get there - even if that costs him a Socceroos starting berth.
The two Melburnians are the clear standout options for Tony Popovic at left wing-back ahead of the World Cup, with both fit and firing ahead of Tuesday's send-off match against Curacao at AAMI Park.
Marauding 23-year-old Bos is flying at Feyenoord and has scored in his past two appearances for the Socceroos, while the ever-reliable and experienced Behich, 35, now looms as back-up.
But the Melbourne City captain is relishing the competition.
"It's healthy. It's not just our position - it's every position," Behich said.
"Obviously we've still got a few months to put our best foot forward as well at our clubs leading into the World Cup selection.
"It's healthy competition. You need that, especially going into a World Cup - everyone's going to be needed ... So yeah, look, it's just exciting times."
Behich, who has carved out a superb career in Europe and for the Socceroos, is happy to help Bos reach his lofty goals.
"He's a good kid. He's got his head screwed on his shoulders really well - wants to learn, trains hard," he said.
"So I'm always there for him. I've got a lot of experience at club and international level.
"So I'll always be there because at the end of the day, he's a bright, young Australian footballer, and I'm more than happy to help my own kind."
Both Behich and Bos are prepared to chip in at right wing-back if called upon by Popovic, though the latter joked his right foot was "more for standing".
Bos left City for Belgian club Westerlo in the off-season before Behich returned to the A-League Men from Europe.
He jokes the pair have been like ships in the night - with Bos injured when Behich has been in camp and vice-versa - and is relishing soaking up the two-time World Cup attendee's experience.
"It seems like we're always missing each other - even at City I left, he came in, now at camps," Bos said.
"It's really nice. I get along with him. So he's always someone that can teach me and I can look up to. So it's nice to have him here."
Bos has put work in to overcome a troubling run of hamstring injuries.
In red-hot form in the Dutch Eredivisie, hype is building around Bos, with a maiden World Cup looming as a platform for potentially an even bigger club move.
"It's everyone's dream to play in a top-three league - the Prem or the Bundesliga. So yeah, it's obviously somewhere I want to be," Bos said.
"But I'm currently just focusing on the here and now at Feyenoord and for Australia."
