Durante and McKain confirmed!

They call it the "holding role", and the Socceroos coaching staff believe it will decide their fate in this year's World Cup campaign.

More traditionally, the position has been known as the "screener", or the "anchorman". Whatever the terminology, in the systems of play preferred by national coach Frank Farina, the task of sitting in front of the back line and blocking either the space, the ball, or the players who venture into Australia's danger zone remains a critical one.

The Socceroos generally concede numbers in the centre of the park, and the "holding role" is designed to add an important level of security. Conventionally, the role is assigned to a midfielder who is mobile, can pass easily with either foot, but whose instinct is not to go forward and try to score goals. Farina, though, has a penchant for using out-and-out defenders in what for most of them is an unusual role.

Farina first tried it with Hayden Foxe four years ago, and in the Confederations Cup opener against Germany this week he thrust rookie Ljubo Milicevic into the firing line in only his second starting appearance.

But the player who looks most at ease despite being played out of position is Jon McKain, a bandy-legged Queenslander who left the Brisbane Strikers two years ago and now seems set to make his name in Europe after an unusual, but successful, detour through Romania.

After serving his apprenticeship at under-20 and under-23 (Olympic) level, the 22-year National Bucharest defender is starting to look the part with the Socceroos, and the Confederations Cup looms as a springboard for both his international and club careers.

McKain's long-term future remains in the back line, but he has the touch, the mobility, and the tactical awareness to adapt. His calm authority after coming off the bench against the Germans in Frankfurt - it was only his sixth cap - confirmed he was a quick learner.

"I see myself as a defender, but I'm happy to play anywhere for the national team," he said.

"I've come into the side in a position I'm not familiar with, so it's taking time. But with every game I think I'm getting a bit better, a bit more knowledgeable, about what I have to do. The important thing is to keep playing well, because hopefully this is just the start. Every training session I'm picking up things, and I'm feeling more and more comfortable. I plan to be here for a while."

When the old national league closed down almost 18 months ago, McKain took the brave decision to head to the relative obscurity of Romania. Now he is settled into the national team, and on the verge of moving to a bigger league in Europe - possibly England where Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers and Everton are being touted as destinations.

"I definitely owe Frank (Farina) one," he said. "When the league stopped in Australia, I didn't want to be sitting around for 18 months. I was in the Olyroos and I didn't want to lose my spot. So I went to Europe, albeit eastern Europe, and things have worked out well.

"Having Frank and Arnie (assistant coach Graham Arnold) with the Olyroos was a big help, and I can't thank them enough.

"Now I'm hoping to do well enough in this tournament to open a few doors. I went to Romania to start something, to get a name for myself, and to keep playing. I think I've done that, and now I'm looking to move. There's a bit of interest from England, but if I do well enough here it could open up doors in different places." <<