Okon keen to see locals in action

The Young Socceroos will line up against Iran, Vietnam and Uzbekistan in the competition as part of their preparations for the AFC U-19 Championship which will be held in the United Arab Emirates in November, which will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Turkey next June and July.

Sixteen players from A-League clubs make up the majority of the squad with notable inclusions Terry Antonis (Sydney FC), new Western Sydney Wanderers signing Reece Caira and Adelaide United duo Paul Izzo and Jake Barker-Daish.

Ryan Edwards, who plies his trade at Reading, joins the squad as the only overseas-based player and will meet up with the team in Vietnam.

Okon is keen to use the tournament as another opportunity for his squad to get some much needed international match experience for the campaign to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

"This will be a very good tournament for us to get a good indication of where we are at in our preparation against opposition that has also qualified for the AFC U-19 Championship," said Okon.

"The players will also be a lot fitter than at the recent AFC U-22 Championship qualifiers in Indonesia and will be closer to the other team in terms of conditioning.

"This will also be the last occasion that we will be without our overseas-based players so it is also an opportunities for the Australia-based players to stake a claim for final selection."

Prior to the AFF U-19 tournament, the Young Socceroos will also play a friendly match against a combined Hong Kong U-21/U-19 national team on Wednesday 29 August at Mongkok Stadium.

Young Socceroos squad: Terry Antonis (Sydney FC), Jake Barker-Daish (Adelaide United), Josh Brillante (Newcastle Jets), Corey Brown (Brisbane Roar), Reece Caira (Western Sydney Wanderers), Connor Chapman (Newcastle Jets), Mitch Cooper (Newcastle Jets), Ryan Edwards (Reading, England), Ben Garuccio (AIS), Jason Geria (Brisbane Roar), Hagi Gligor (Sydney FC), Paul Izzo (gk) (Adelaide United), Jesse Makarounas (Perth Glory), Nick Munro (gk) (Croydon Kings, SA State League), Luke O'Dea (Bentleigh Greens, Victorian Premier League), Brandon O’Neill (Perth Glory), Daniel Petkovski (Sydney FC), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets), Riley Woodcock (Perth Glory), David Vrankovic (Melbourne Heart)