Olyroos prepare for Beijing with a match against Mexico

The Olyroos will begin preparations for the Beijing Olympics with a match against Mexico in San Francisco next month.
 
The March 2 clash will be the first outing for the Australian under-23s since qualifying for the Games last November following an arduous 14-match campaign.
 
Coach Graham Arnold has selected a squad of 25 players for a pre-tour camp in Sydney beginning on Saturday with 21 players to make up the travelling party departing for the United States on Wednesday.
 
The squad contains two overseas based players - Adrian Leijer of English Premier League club Fulham and striker David Williams from Danish-club Brondby - with 22 of the remaining 23 players from the A-League.
 
Nine players from the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets have been selected, with those players to join the squad on Monday following Sunday's grand final.
 
There are several new faces in the squad, including Mariners striker Matt Simon, Melbourne Victory defender and Young Socceroo captain Sebastian Ryall, Queensland Roar attacker Tahj Minniecon, and Newcastle Jets pair Tarek Elrich and James Holland.
 
Players not considered due to injury include Adelaide United's Kristian Sarkies, Melbourne Victory's Nick Ward and Roar striker Robbie Kruse.
 
"The team did a fantastic job in qualifying through a very tough campaign, but now the next stage commences in order to build the best possible team for Beijing," said Arnold.
 
"The competition for places in the 18-man squad will be intense, with many overseas based players in contention, and this coming match will be a great opportunity for locally based players to impress."
 
The soccer draw for the Beijing Olympics will be held on April 20.
 
Squad: Nigel Boogaard (Central Coast Mariners), Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory), Mark Bridge (Newcastle Jets), Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Billy Celeski (Melbourne Victory), Robert Cornthwaite (Adelaide United), Adam DApuzzo (Newcastle Jets), Bruce Djite (Adelaide United), Tarek Elrich (Newcastle Jets), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Adrian Leijer (Fulham, England), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Tahj Minniecon (Queensland Roar), Stuart Musialik (Newcastle Jets), Justin Pasfield (Wollongong Wolves, NSW), Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory), Sebastian Ryall (Melbourne Victory), Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), David Williams (Brondby, Denmark), Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney FC), Michael Zullo (Queensland Roar).