Martin Boyle and Jackson Irvine are set to avoid a punishing trip to Nepal for a World Cup qualifier days before Hibernian are due to start their crucial post-split Premiership campaign after Football Australia announced the match would take place as part of a new, centralised format.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) cancelled almost all of March’s scheduled qualifiers for Qatar 2022 and the Asian Cup in China a year later as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but several others were still pencilled in to go ahead.
Those included the Socceroos’ visit to the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, which was set to take place on March 30, less than 72 hours ahead of the men in green and white’s first fixture in the end of season format.
That eventuality has now been avoided after Fifa extended the international window to the end of the season, with Graham Arnold’s national side now set to face Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal and Chinese Taipei in a 15-day blast between May and June.
A venue for the fixture list - played between May 31 and June 15 - is yet to be determined, though it is hoped the shortened format can ease a packed calendar.
Former Hibs striker Jamie MacLaren scored a hat-trick when Australia defeated Nepal in Canberra in October 2019.
The Aussies top group B with four wins from four in their qualification campaign so far, with Irvine finding the net twice in a 7-1 win over Taipei.
The pair have been in good form for Jack Ross's men since the turn of the year, with Boyle scoring five times in his last five Premiership appearances.
Irvine has also impressed since joining the club on a short term deal until the end of the campaign in January.
Both players are expected to start when Hibs look to bounce back from their defeat to Motherwell at St Johnstone this weekend.
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